Baron Siegfried & his Butler

Water-spots. Always the water-spots…

Coll busies himself wiping down a mug, like he has done a thousand times before. The rasping sound of throat being cleared shifts his attention to the man waiting in front of the counter. Wispy greying hair stands out from a balding head, and the usually flawlessly twisted mustache has been combed decidedly unprofessionally. Baron Siegfried, 65 years old, suddenly looks his age. There is no sign of his faithful butler.

“Could I…” the Baron sounds uncertain of the proper protocol, “…check out please?”
His lips quiver.




It’s a dreary journey back to Daring Heights. The group consisting of Alenea, Ruk, Bubbles, Greebo, the Baron and the drovers Currie and Carrie make the trip in pregnant silence. The Butler had paid the drovers before setting out, but there certainly would be no payment for the rest – the Butler was gone, and with him, the purse. Somewhere in the foothills of the Sunspine Mountains, in a black cave, a new statue stands among so many others; a silent addition to the collection.


Back in Daring, the Baron realizes that without his faithful servant, he is not only help- but penniless. The room in the Ettin is paid for, but sitting there alone, with no one to keep him company, see to his hair, clothes or correspondence, he becomes acutely aware that his dream of reliving his adventuring youth was exactly that – a dream. He searches his pockets and finds exactly three golden crowns. This is all he has to his name in Kantas.

One, he spends on a messenger (utterly ignorant of what price such a service usually commands), carrying a letter to his “dear friend” Lady Saria Underwood, begging (in so many words) for a letter of safe conduct to see him home to Cormyr.

The second he gives to the cleaning staff of the Ettin, to help him gather what few things remain him and he can carry.


The third he gives to Coll.

“Could you…” he begins, uncertain, ”…see that his name is remembered? Buy a round for the patrons, and say his name?”

Coll looks at the solitary golden coin on the counter. “A round of drinks will cost you far more than this, your lordship.” He sighs, extends his hand, and slowly drags the coin toward him. The sound of metal grating on wood has the Baron flinch. “Fine, I’ll see what we got left. People don’t usually ask too many questions about free drinks being offered.” Coll squints, searching the registry of his memory and comes up empty. “What was his name anyway, your butler?”

The Baron looks at him for a moment, before averting his eyes again. His voice cracks as he says the words.

“Henry. His name was Henry.”




The rain beats down on the cobblestones of Daring Heights as merciless as the turn of time. A solitary figure leaves the Three-Headed Ettin bent and broken, carrying a small bundle under his arms. Head bowed, he makes his way to the Teleportation Circle in Portal Plaza. The rain washes away all traces of his passing. Baron Siegfried von Hagen, once famed adventurer and duelist of Cormyr; peer of the realm and royal companion; set out on his final adventure. The teleportation circle’s light flickers to life and dies again as the old man passes, having traded the last goodwill his name buys him for a passage home.
In the end, the adventurer’s life takes something from everyone – hope;   family;  time.

And in the end, time will break all who will not bend.