-----Seth eyes the men and states, "Well, this is actually our dragon and we claim all rights to its carcass. Now we are fair people, and as we have just saved you from certain death at the hands of this..." he walks over and gives the robed man on the ground a good kick, " this man, we shall not charge you for that service. No instead we would request that you help us remove the hide for us. You can just tell your friend Jim that someone beat you to the task. If you not want to help us then I suggest you all sit down now with your hands behind your back while my good Lady binds your wrists. We will not harm you." He looks at the dragon for a while and then looks over at the wagon, which he hopes is still full of treasure and art works. He rubs his chin and looks at his new exquisite ring.
-----He turns back to the man and adds, "You know, as owners of this dragon, there are a few things he has been up to that he did not tell us about. You know maybe you could tell us what he has been up to. Who he has been seeing? Where does he fly? Where does he go in the night? You know that kind of thing. Are there any lady dragons about?"
-----The two peasant men look at each other and shrug. They then approach the draconic carcass again drawing forth their tools. Finally the man hiding in the bushes emerges and makes his way to help the others.
-----At Seth's questions, the men exchange odd glances. One of them finally answers, "We not be knowin' the way o' draggins!"
-----By the late afternoon, the three peasant men have a large section of the dragon hide removed. The black scales shine promisingly in the light and the hide seems to be about twenty feet long and about five feet wide.
-----By this time, the older man in the blue robes is wide-awake. He stares with an uncertain look at the rogues and the mercenaries as they go about their waiting. Runik stands over him palming his warhammer.
-----After a while the Dread Pirate stretches and yawns, only to cut his action short as his nostrils fill with the rising stench of dead dragon flesh and blood. Turning away from the skinned carcass, he swears at the peasants to load the dragon hide in the wagon.
-----As they do so, the Dread Pirate then turns to Seth and Kazel. With a quizzical look on his head, he scratches his head as he speaks low enough for them to hear, "Arr, . . . so where we be a' headin' now? We could go back into town now that we have our secret ways in. We can starts our own guild n' lead the recover o' Redmarsh to new heights. Once the guards gets all them dead bodies out of our way, people'll want to set up their shops again and we got a bit o' loot to spend."
-----Dread then pats his belly close to the wound delivered by the evil sewer priest's knife as he absently minded continues, " . . . or we could be scourin' the countryside fer the dragon's lair just to see if we can add anymore to our loot."
-----". . . or we could head back into Oakwood territory and see if'n Voruna and her folks have any rewards fer us since we went to all the trouble o' clearin' their area o' evil ones and whatnot."
-----Finally, he shrugs saying, " . . . or we could head all the way back to Hearthorn n' claim our reward n' our former companion's too."
-----Seth nods at each one of Dread's suggestions. "Well, we already have a base in Hearthorn, and it would be difficult fencing our wagon of goods in this town.. How about we head on back to Hearthorn fence our stuff, look through it if we have any items of rare or interesting properties. Then come back and check in with Voruna. If we are serious about setting up a guild here we will need to have our connections with her and the Hearthorne mob, what do you think Kazel?" he eyes the naked dragon carcass and looks down at his soiled shirt and adds, "I am also in need of a good bath and rest and recreations with Books!!"
-----Kazel leans with a hand on the robed man's head as she thinks. "Hmm, I think we've fooled around enough in this town for now. How bout we stop at Voruna's first since it's on the way? Maybe she'll tell us Krondor's already dead so we can save the trip."
-----She then moves to search both the dead and the robed man. "Oh, did you find anything in those fancy trap doors, Dread?"
-----"Arrr," the Dread Pirate says as he squints, "there be a small room which had some papers n' maps scattered on a table. I gave those papers to Seth. Above that room be steps that lead up to a deserted tavern."
-----"We'll be bypassing the Town of Oakwood, of course?" Brandel says, asking as much as stating a fact.
-----Krord lifts the little girl into the wagon and then scowls fiercely at the three workers.
-----"Aye," Runik grunts, "and what we be doin' wit' this one?" The dwarf points at the robed man that Kazel leans on.