Never buy a dress at the caravan clothier

Sarenith 21, 4711

Roscoe is on maneuvers with a Hellknight company. Originally dispatched to secure the route to Mosswater, the Hellknights encountered a large pack of dire wolves led by a trio of mean-looking ogres. The company suffered through two months of chasing the pack and the ogres over hostile terrain, and after countless casualties and sleepless nights the Hellknights at last engaged the ogres, and Roscoe was the one who delivered the killing blow to the female ogre.


Sarenith 30, 4711

Roscoe and the remaining Hellknights return to Fort Inevitable at the same time as the new company from Cheliax arrives at the fort, accompanied with the merchant’s caravan that comes by every three months. He reconnects with his siblings, and they are happy to see him.


Erastus 1st, 4711

On the first day of the quarter all residents of Fort Inevitable and surrounding areas are invited to come to the Citadel field and participate in the quarterly celebration of Hellknight rule. A large contingent of Hellknights flanks the field in their dress uniforms, and flags and banners flutter in the wind. The scaffold has been built, and as the crowd gathers for the enforcement of the rule of law and the punishment of crimes. The Coopers are in the crowd and applaud as the Lady Commander Audara Drovust takes the platform.

The Lady Commander reports that this has been one of the most peaceful quarter in recent memory, with only two criminals to be punished. The first is Jeremy Zelnaux, former owner of Zelnaux Winery, for fraud, extortion and willful rejection of the legitimate authority of the Hellknights. The halfling is quickly hung.

The second condemned is a bugbear named Grunk, whom the Coopers encountered in the Emerald Spire. Brought out covered in chains and gagged, Grunk is condemned to death for trespassing and assaulting a representative of the Lady Commander in the course of his legitimate duties, an offense that automatically incurs the penalty of death with extreme prejudice. Grunk is lowered in a pit and then buried until only his head sticks out. The citizens of Fort Inevitable are then invited to throw rocks at his head until death occurs. The Coopers happily participate in the stoning.

The Lady Commander then asks the Cooper triplets to come to the platform. For their services rendered at the Zelnaux Winery in Dimsdale, they are awarded the First Level of the Crow. And they are invited to attend the Lady Commander’s Grand Ball, held tonight outside on the Citadel grounds. Not having appropriate clothing, the Coopers need to go shopping for ball outfits.

Gerald, Roscoe and Darelle go to Mirelenda the clothier in Fort Inevitable. Darelle purchases a pink puffy dress with an equally pink shawl and a pink hat adorned with a bird’s nest and a live pink bird. Gerald gets a plain but stylish grey and black outfit. He also buys a nice lilac scarf for Daryle. Roscoe purchases black fineries which include a puffy shirt and a large gold cod piece, a cape, black shoes adorned with gold buckles. Finally, he gets a large brimmed black hat with three gold feathers.

Daryle decides to go shopping outside of the walls to the merchant’s caravan. One of the clothiers that rides in the quarterly caravant is back, and he offers her two different outfits. One was worn by a noblewoman but she returned it because it did not fit properly. Made of the finest lilac silk, he is willing to part with it for a modest sum. The dress fits perfectly, so Daryle decides to take it. She also goes to Gertrand Yeldun, the moneychanger, and rents a silver necklace with a large amethyst set in the middle for the night.

During the ball each Cooper is approached by the Lady Commander, who thanks them for their hard work on behalf of the Hellknights. Darelle dances with other teens, while Roscoe regales young ladies with stories of his military exploits. Gerald and his turtle eat food at the buffet, while Daryle hangs out near the bar. When the Lady Commander begins speaking with Daryle, the latter’s dress peels off her and attacks the Commander. Both Roscoe and Darelle notice, and begin heading that way. For all intents and purposes, it looks like Daryle is attacking the Lady Commander, and Hellknights react as such, charging towards their Commander. The Coopers are eventually able to convince the Lady Commander, who came out bloodied from her battle with the dress, that they didn’t know anything about it. Daryle tells them where she bought the dress, and Hellknights are immediately dispatched to arrest the merchant.