Many of these quests are easier to get to and complete for quick experience
Defiance Bay is meant to be a safer place to walk or run through providing you aren't so notoriously hated by other lords which seems to be the case with these assassins sent to kill the party and TheGoliath, hired by Lord Gathbin no doubt.
But he did not hire very strong assassins except for some of their lucky hits. They were weak and quick to be disposed off with their low health and defences, fireball did a nice chunk with the burning after the initial hit and then they just attacked and moved on to the scriveners' dormitory in Copperlane to try find Vianna.
Over in Ondra's Gift in another section of Defiance Bay was an abandoned house which held a meeting between Vianna and Dodwyna who are arguing over research pages until the party walked in on them and advised they let Vianna go. Of course Dodwyna did not like this and a fight quickly broke out.
A ray of fire came from TheGoliath to damage Dodwyna while Hiravias started to spread a plague and the group took some damage from each enemy, needing some healing. A bit more of a tougher fight which is why the deadlier moves were cast against these enemies. Turns out they were from the group The Dozens which was another group of knights or mercenaries, ones not a fan of the Crucible Knights and knew about Vianna's work for them.
Back to Dunstan the party went as he was the one requiring Vianna's research to get to work on making a polished breastplate into something more amazing which he was not happy about. But by the time he finished he realised it was well worth the time and effort and the party could now always buy equipment from Dunstan.
So far so good with getting some additional quests completed quickly and the next would take more time... because Eder wanted to know more about his brother's death in Defiance Bay by looking into the records of the Saint's War. Of course a lot of people had been inquiring about those records, so TheGoliath was told he had to get more established in Defiance Bay if access to the records would still be what they wanted.
"This is a shame but we must keep getting our standing higher so we can find out what happened to my brother!" claimed Eder before the party left the Ducal Palace.
The Charred Barrel was the last stop for now, to meet Chancellor Warrin as a missive was sent out to TheGoliath... turns out one was sent to the Chancellor as well as a trap for them both.
"As far as I know, you still have the rightful possession of Caed Nua and nothing has changed" Chancellor Warrin said before the Charred Barrel went silent.
Not a moment later a group of armed men and women entered and one was Gathbin's captain.
"I remember you. At the palace, you were with Lord Gathbin" said TheGoliath.
"You are to be put to death by Lord Gathbin's orders. I admire all your exploits that are true, so it's a shame" claimed Captain Emery.
The discussion went on for a short while longer, with TheGoliath mentioning Captain Emery should work for him instead, and when Emery asked what could be offered for that risk, a better life with an honourable lord was a good answer as Emery knew about the charity, kindness but also strength in TheGoliath and his party.
It wasn't quite enough to convince changing sides but it avoided bloodshed in the Charred Barrel and that should TheGoliath keep proving himself, who knows what might happen. So this was good for everyone.
Chancellor Warrin was not expecting that, but mentioned about reports from Erl Bademar who had kept an eye on Lord Gathbin's activities which mentioned he had been hiring a lot of men, no doubt to get spies and saboteurs into Caed Nua so he had to be careful for what is to come.
"We should have a quick rest at the inn before we head back to Caed nua" announced Pallegina before they went and took some time out as with any other day they had been busy. Back to Caed Nua would come a little later in the day.
This was part #19 for my Pillars of Eternity series.
Stay tuned for part #20 and see what happens next and what TheGoliath will get up to.
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