"Yes, but I am not sure harpers can give me anything when they are shielded from real truth. I want opinion of wise people like you, so I can make some solid hypothetical ground to start some investigation. Especially since I have heard some disturbing rumors of undead which I would rather not share."
Raeuz clarifies.
I've learned what one finds is often the top part of something that goes much deeper than it seems. One person's take on this if you will. What you need now is a network of people to look into this, lest we miss something.
It's as complicated as...Lord Neverember's position on the city currently. On the surface, it seems simply it should be right or wrong he is there. But if one looks deeper, one finds, the inter-connections tell their own story.
Raeuz smiles, "I think you are mistaken. I am not a - what literary experts like yourself call - a main character. I investigate and expose. And leave the work for other people to accomplish."
Then he thinks, forming a group - that is something he has never done before. It must be nice to rely on others. He has heard rumors about Raven Knight Council. But only those closer to Raven Queen know the truth. Should he aim for a group like that?
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iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
Raeuz smiles, "I think you are mistaken. I am not a - what literary experts like yourself call - a main character. I investigate and expose. And leave the work for other people to accomplish."
Then he thinks, forming a group - that is something he has never done before. It must be nice to rely on others. He has heard rumors about Raven Knight Council. But only those closer to Raven Queen know the truth. Should he aim for a group like that?
the truthseeker smiles. "I've given you a lead and an option to peruse it. How you manage what you learned now is up to you."
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
**After a long day, the truthseeker entered the tavern. He barely was able to stop from passing out; feeling this (realizing he must have internal injuries,) he slipped his regeneration ring on once again as he slumped into his usual spot now recovering from indeed what he felt was an internal injury fading away.
Having been sent out to the "Tower District" brought its own hells. Saying the district was almost completely overrun by orcs was in itself an understatement of understatements. Even now, orcs still went after any person crossing into the guarded zone, not even seemingly caring that their life would be forfeit to the veteran guard battalion guarding the entrances so in a beserker rage they were to kill.
Plopping the courier's bag onto the table (he was allowed to keep the bag as a "thanks" once its contents were safely routed to the general and truth's mission successful,) truth began casting a simple but effective cantrip. In less than a few seconds, the bag lost all its dirt and bloodstains, but still was torn and ripped in multiple places.
Pulling out a pinch of residuum, truth went about the steps of casting a ritual. Ten minutes later, it consumed less than half a gold piece's worth of the pinch pulled.
Now restored was a fine courier's bag (with all emblems then promptly removed) that was worthy for enchantment. **
While too small for a Handy Haversack, it will make an excellent second bag of holding when I gather the remaining components to finish crafting it.
Feeling peckish, truth asks Imogene to get him some Beef stew and a wheat beer.
**He eats politely but voraciously, not even having to ask as Imogene provides him seconds (then thirds) of more stew.
Patting the item in his haversack shortly later, truth decides to investigate the newer implement at a future time. He'll decide whether simply to sell his older one, to offer it to anther of his adventuring companions, or whether it can be used as magical focus components, (but it was unlikely due to its lower condition from his other acquired crafting components.)**
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
It was evening in the Source Stone Tavern when the truthseeker was having a drink and finishing his stew as normal. Several days had passed since his successful courier mission.
An unsavory looking character (compared to the other ones who already could qualify for that moniker) entered, looking around for somebody specifically. His features were tall and almost gaunt, definitely angular, almost feral if looked at the right angle.
Seeing truth, he kept his hood up and cautiously approached him.
Truth seemed to not respond, eating his stew and drinking his beer, apparently oblivious to the person stalking him, as were the barkeep and wench.
Satisfied with his approach, the man planned his next move-avenue of introduction-when truth speaks up just enough to make sure it is clearly directed at the man,
“If you plan on stalking me all night, please finish before the post-midnight hours so I can get some rest. Now, come over here and tell me what you want.”
Truth holds up a hand as if to signal “I’ve got this.” Imogene and Edgar don’t seem to activate anything overtly or subtly that the “stranger” observes.
After a brief look of frustration (the look saying "I should have known better,") the stranger approached truth’s table. Kicking a chair out, truth says, “Have a seat.”
“I’d prefer…a more private location for our…negotiations.” The s in negotiations almost sounded like it was hissed.
Truth’s stew was finished by the time the "guest" approached the table, but hearing this response caused him to finish his beer in a couple of big swallows. Responding in an “Oh yeah?” manner, he replies,
“And why would that be? And why would I even agree?”
The stranger (doing everything to hide any look of confidence) simply opens a box, places a beret on the table long enough for truth to ascertain its owner (but not long enough for it to be used in any tracing methods,) picks it up and places it in the lead-lined box and closes it.
The truthseeker simply states, “I see you’ve…studied me and my methods. Including my last protected ward. Very well. Please trust me when I have to signal her over to allow access.”
Truthseeker signals over Imogene and neutrally states without any innuendo whatsoever,
“I’d like another Imogene and the same for my business associate here, but we’ll have it served elsewhere….please prepare privacy room one for a private business discussion. We are absolutely not to be disturbed under any circumstances. Please also show the exit door is…available for a discreet departure, as I’m sure our guest would not like to be seen where he must depart to when finished.”
Imogene simply nods and leaves briefly with truth’s glass, and opens a box behind the bar taking out its only contents: a single key made of Lead. Returning, she replies, “Gentlemen, could you please follow me?” Rising, both of them follow the server as she goes upstairs and down a hallway with several room doors on the side. Stopping at the end of the hallway, she presses a portion of the wall and a section rolls back. A lead door is seen with a basic looking keyhole. Imogene inserts and turns her key, and it makes a notable “click.” Oddly enough, the door makes almost no noise when opened as if impeccably oiled and maintained or magically treated.
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
Entering the room, it appears like the back room typically seen for private card games (or less than open business dealings: ) A varnished cherry wood round table is in the center of the room-many coasters neatly stacked on the table-placed with eight chairs of identically varnished wood (and other chairs are seen stacked in the back corner.) The walls are wood-paneled in what appears to be a Walnut wood. Portraits and paintings of famous people of Neverwinter past and present as well as multiple landscapes finely painted hang throughout the room.
In one corner. a smaller bar is present for “private servings.” In the same side but opposite corner of the bar (as if to allow viewing those leaving or entering the location,) is another door made of the same metal material. Imogene points to a small knothole in a discreet area of a wall and asks, “If you could both verify what’s behind the wood please?” the stranger and truth both look and she asks, “I assume you both recognize the sheet alloy of lead, gold and adamantine to provide non detection and the cork behind that to soundproof the room without using magics?”
Both men nod.
Imogene goes over and unlocks the exit door with the key (with the same “click” sound,) and pulls open the door. Going back and first closing and locking the entry door with a “click” she next gestures for the two others to follow her.
Stepping outside, the three appear in a barely lit alley. Any indication of a door on this end is not seen and it looks as if the people “walked through a solid wall” into said alley. While not completely clear which street it is from this distance, some traffic is seen at the end of the alleyway leading to Neverwinter’s part of this city.
“And I guess this is the part where we prove the street over there is not an illusion,” she asks? Both nod. She responds, “Then let’s go. “ Walking to that street, then a turn off, they appear on a major street, where she walks up near the Manycoins bank.” Holding out one finger as in “one moment” she simply says, “This is far enough to see and hear me with him over there. You all know him well enough to see if it’s an illusion. Follow me when I hold out two fingers and not before.” Getting approval, she moves up and approaches the watch officer and warmly greets him as an old companion would.
“And a good eve’ to you Lieutenant Linkletter.”
“Always good to see you Imogene,” replied the Lieutenant! “Getting more ‘special requests’ for some ‘Whales’ of yours?”
“You know me too well Sir! Indeed, I was just returning with a few small but very pricey items. No need for an escort though. You know this girl can take care of herself!” She laughs as if sharing a secret with the man.
The Lt. laughs in turn as if sharing the secret and responds, “You know how to call us if things get bad. Don’t fleece those fat cats too much now, as I hate dealing with any official paperwork!”
Sharing a wink with the Lt. Imogene leaves and returns back where she was before but using a different path, holding out two fingers behind her back when properly far enough away from Linkletter to signal the others to follow her without suspicion.
Returning to the wall, they enter the door which Imogene closes but does not lock. Handing the key over to the truthseeker, she then takes two glasses out from the mini bar and fills them with one of the taps with more beer. She paces two coasters down and places the beers on them. She asks, “Will there be anything else before I leave you two to your privacy?”
“Yes Imogene, I want your other key also,” truth simply states.
“But you asked for privacy room one. You know there’s only one key for…”
“Stop it, no backups this time; your other key Imogene, now,” truth states firmly.
“Are you…”
“Yes,” truth interrupts not waiting for her to finish “sure?”!
Imogene bows her head briefly, and rolls down her stocking, removes the other key safely tucked in a sewn-in pocket and re-rolls up her stocking. She then hands over the key to truth with a look of reluctance.
“Thank you for understanding the sensitivity of our discussion. Again, absolutely no matter what, we are not to be disturbed!" Truth allows an almost pleading look in his eyes to be seen by her and she neutrally but politely states,
“I understand m’Lords. I hope all is resolved profitably for everybody. And a good eve to you if I should not see you again tonight m’Lord,” she states to the ‘gentleman’ with the truthseeker. With that, Imogene leaves the room.
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
The truthseeker places both keys given to him on the table in the center. He picks up one key, goes over to the exit door and shows it locking and unlocking the door including opening the door and closing it. He repeats this with the entrance door.
He then places one key on the table and repeats it with the other key, leaving both doors unlocked and open at the end. He offers the man to try it himself, which he repeats but choosing the keys in opposite order that truth did.
“Satisfied,” truth simply asks?
The man nods.
“Entry or Exit?”
“Entry.”
“On three then?”
The man nods.
“One…two…three.”
On three, both men get up taking a key, and head to their doors--the stranger taking the entry door, the truthseeker taking the exit door. They close their doors and lock it with a distinctive “click.” Returning to the tables, truth places the key back at the center which the stranger does also in kind placing it parallel to the other key.
The stranger speaks out,
“Now…before we begin, I do insist we remove all of our…shall we call them ‘toys’ and place them in some observed container? Your new holding container should do. Main weapons and implement foci first please?”
Truth nods as he takes out from his non-magical backpack a newly-enchanted holding bag from it, and places it on the floor to one side of the room. Several minutes pass as all magic items and non-magic items that can be used as a weapon are placed in the bag by both sides, both parties checking with their own methods of detecting magic.
The stranger points to a pin holding truth’s hair back. the truthseeker sighs and removes it; it reverting back to a hat and his actual appearance, as the man simply says, “Yoo are that race, I see.” Hands on his actual race exposed hips, truth looks for him to continue.
“Ahh, yes, if you could remove that last magic item please?”
“Excuse me? What item is that," retorts truth?
“The item on your belt that looks like a perfectly inert fashion stone like a rhinestone but actually bypasses the wards in this tavern. It allows you to cast magic and not be affected by the wards if you should activate it, and that normally does not detect as magical but is using a dweomer and uses a pre-Spellplague method of magic...one? “
The magnus simply nods, and covered his mouth almost mouthing more than whispering a command word below even the level of a rat’s hearing, and the gem detaches from his belt which he places in the bag. Satisfied, the man nods, and so does the mage, which he closes the bag up with a peace-bond.
Truth then gestures to the chairs, and both the men sit, truth allowing the man to take a chair facing the exit door, while he then takes an opposite facing chair facing the entry door. (Truth has an uncomfortable look on his face like now he is actually vulnerable [or constipated.])
Soldiering on, he starts.
“Now,” says truth, “I guess we should start our discussion. By the way, what name should I call you, Jon PerBach?”
The stranger bowed mockingly with sweeping hand, without rising from his chair.”
“Your intelligence gathering is correct as what I am called, not…necessarily who I am…but semantics. I know of your liking to be called as well…Edward Wentworth.”
Truth simply shrugs as if it were an old title, that uncomfortable look back for a moment.
“Yes yes, family of millers, father dropped dead at work after forty two years, mother actually continued his business with hired help, and we got by. Our generations proven our worth to own land that came and went thus the Surname. You being a top Fixer in the Luskan group down here is much more interesting. How is Luskan by the way?
Jon smiled thinly,
“Your Harper contacts should have already told you when I moved to Neverwinter and I haven’t returned there since.
How’s your health by the way? We were surprised you dropped so quickly, but didn’t expect a raise contingency. We promise we’ll be more…prepared in the future.”
the truthseeker smiled warmly which signified his absolute hatred of the man at this moment for bringing that up. The look of discomfort longer this time.
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
Truth still managers to bluntly reply,
[FONT=&]“Oh, I revived, and ‘finished’ with your "Sons." Nicely done on moving the Crown, and one of your own you couldn’t kill getting it caught in the ground zero of a Spellstorm blast. Even your own group turning on him didn’t see that one coming!
But about Ashleigh?”[/FONT]
“She is alive and well, where she always is. Under observation by my…trusted in disguise.”
“And your interest in, ‘talking’ to me this time instead of your ‘ogre diplomacy’ methods?”
Jon laughed.
“Yes, we observed that other adventuring party’s mission also. Greig thought himself very clever and yet was very stupid sending in an entire tribe-himself included-to try and get that artifact after the adventurers retrieved it from a rival…and not have any backup plan when they failed and ended up all dead. It’s not profitable anyway; let Valindra Shadowmantle deal with it.
But in answer to your question why we just didn’t send a large group of ours to finish what we started this time when you were most vulnerable instead of this direct discussion…you have a habit…of surviving, even when you don’t. We thought a new tactic more effective for your cooperation.”
“In other words, your boss’ boss Toytere' didn’t like Rsolk not succeeding but decided he-whom they are on good terms with still-too valuable to kill and used his ‘traditional’ method of blackmailing officials where they could be controlled outside of greed on an adventurer, but Rsolk would be too paranoid to risk a meeting directly, so you got sent--his right hand rat. "
Jon shrugged and said,
“You can’t beat tradition sometimes.
But back to our terms. We’ve been authorized to spare her life …or perhaps exposure to incurable horrible diseases we’ve saved for such ‘special occasions’ instead, if you’d agree to share certain…shall we say, ‘privileged’ information we know you get with your involvement with the Harper Network?"
the truthseeker's hands drop in somewhat resignation as the look of discomfort hits its peak almost like any opportunity he had, has now dropped. Raising his face in defeated but negotiating terms, he continues.
“And what guarantee do I have you won’t simply do this to her if I share this information anyway?”
Jon looked disappointed. "Now now, we underestimated you once; we’d hate to lose such a valuable asset of information by removing such a key piece of leverage. "
“You think the Owner will stand for this?”
“The owner doesn’t care as long as that person stays behind the scenes and collects their money. It was a stroke of genius for them to hire adventurers like you to man security-almost a clever idea to make you chief of security.”
“I’ll let him know you approve of his methods.
Actually, the hiring of adventurers was my idea; why I got chief of security out of it. But good job on you figuring that out, since we always acted as equals among everybody.
You know, like…your group, we came to an agreement with the watch, but a legal one at that even if they are mercenaries.
Speaking of, what’s to stop me from killing you right now?”
“My trusted are under orders to do….let’s say ‘something’ to her should I not report back at a predetermined location and range of time.”
“And what’s to stop me from ordering a raid of your entire organization sometime and forcing some kind of ‘exchange’ for Rsolk for all involved with Ashleigh so she can be moved?”
Jon laughed.
“I guess you’re not as wise as you are as smart. Do you really think I got permission through Rsolk for this operation? Kill them all if you wish.”
[to be continued]
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited November 2012
[Warning, somewhat graphic actions taken, even if witnessed in the actual MMO demonstration.]
“So the rumors of some Rats using a cell are true?”
“I would never admit to such a thing. Pity you didn’t think Cells involved you.”
“Actually, we did: John Pierre, Gersest, Resteal, Gerry-the ones you trusted to watch Ashleigh-and Oransk-the orc Slayer in Blackdagger you had keeping an eye on me-are all dead."
The sleeves Jon had “casually” rolled up that had the contact poison his wererat kind were immune to were immediately swiped at truth’s face when the mage blinked out reappearing several feet away and to the side and now on his feet, an orb somehow appearing hovering beside him, as a Chill Strike stalactite sized icicle literally pined Jon’s body to the side of a wall. Almost as rapidly, a mage’s hand slammed him, disrupting any powers he might have been able to do. Three bursts of Chill Strike Icicles slammed into him ripping his body way past bloodied. And finally, a mage hand grabbed the pinned Jon’s throat squeezing him as he attempted to shift into a smaller form, then reverted to a hybrid rat-human form.
“Let’s make this quick if you don’t want to instantly die Jonny. Are you the one in charge and is there anybody else?”
“But,…how….no magic left…”
Truth points to the now-hovering orb and a similar “decorative” crystal attached to it.
“The override that also suppresses detection? They come in pairs you [CENSORED] idiot! Use the same command word to activate and deactivate. One was off while the other was on. I knew you couldn’t tell an implement from an old school item just learned how to see if there was magic detecting on me or not which you thought you could now see was the crystal emanating through my spell aura.
As for where, that answer is...uncomfortable but I think you can guess the one place you didn't want to look."
"But, *wheeze* much more power…you failed….”
"The Tower and the orcs? Blackdagger? All an act to look like I wasn’t as powerful as I really was. Oh we finished Blackdagger all right, I just never reported the mission in to make your source report me failing! Like they would check an entire Fortress with the remaining enemies anyway?”
And I knew about the tailing for several tendays. But we didn’t know when you’d act. Now if you don’t want to die this very second, ANSWER ME!”
The grasping hand grasped even tighter, causing Jon PerBach to cough up blood.
“D—does it matter?”
“No, we vetted you. Know your cell is run by you, and many like your kind suffer too much arrogance when you think you have all the cards. Thought I’d ask just to see. But I’ll be honest with you, more than you were going to be with me,”
The pinning icicle winked out and the force hand disappeared as truth shot out a ray of frost slowly freezing the close to death Jon PerBach.
“You are going to die for threatening a little girl’s life,” truth said as the wererat screamed in agony in the soundproof room as the frost went up to his abdomen trapping him. “And because you chose somebody innocent under my ward, it’s going to hurt much much more than this! After all,” he hissed, “our kind knows something about vengeance and being able to wait a long time when we can!”
With that, truth slowly, very slowly, increased the Ray of Frost so it rose oh so very slowly up Jon PerBach’s, body, the agonizing pain the wererat felt beyond any description. Lifetimes of agony later, the final amount of his face and head was covered, and his body then shattered into exploding shards.
After a quick prestidigitation to…tidy himself and his new more powerful implement. Truth opened the sealed bag of holding, and took out a non-magical but waterproofed “garbage sack” often used in things like camping. He then begun the slow but ardent process of mage hand-ing the corpse’s pieces into the sack before they melted, finally sealing the sack with another peace-bond-effectively waterproofing and odorproofing the container. He then went through the bag of holding, removing and re-wearing his worn items, including his modified “Hat of Disguise,” and noting what he got from the “mini boss.” He opened the rear door and held a crystal by, but not through the illusionary wall on his end. It blinked and text floated over it as if scrolling. Reading the received message, he nodded, muttered a quick incarnation for a brief message spell, then closed and locked the exit door again.
Unlocking the entry door, truth exits to the hall, downstairs, and to the common room where Imogene had a “took you long enough” look sent to him. Edgar (besides slightly raising one eyebrow before lowing it just as quickly,) had no comment and looked extremely busy cleaning the bar at that moment.
“So am I to assume you negotiated your business?”
“Exactly as expected. Except he didn’t know any more about the owner. That’s a plus, because it means anybody else he ever talked to wouldn’t know anything new either. Oh,”
Handing over a bag, he continues,
"His stuff, I'm sure most of it is way underpowered for what you have, but sell what you don't use and place the proceeds in the normal location."
“You OK?”
“Fine, a little…uncomfortable, but tricks of the trade. All items and terms are…cleaned up. No personal questions about it…ever, please. No need to get another group or anything. The other Five have already been…negotiated with earlier as planned when we started. Theryis was a woman of her word on that end. It looks like all talks are closed. Everybody can just go back to what and where they were doing and going. No moving needed.”
Imogene said, "By the way, very nice in your tells. Only a seasoned professional would have thought maybe you were pandering to what they wanted to see. You were absolutely right about his arrogance, but not fooling somebody on my level of course!"
Thanks...I think," truth said while he winked at Imogene.
“Anything else we need to do about this?”
“I only have one thing left,”
He drops the sack near the front door,
“Remind the person closing up to take out the trash tonight.”
iamtruthseekerMember, Moonstars, Neverwinter Beta UsersPosts: 0Arc User
edited January 2013
Note: Next story on the Chasm is delayed to find out the conversion on the MMO int=erpratation of the Chasm. However, YOU are all allowed to post whenever, just thought I'd make that clear.
*A bard makes an entrance in the Tavern*
He is wearing a clock which covers everything but his plumed hat. His cloak is bright yellow and defeats the purpose of camouflage. It seems as if he is holding a weapon under the cloak - a lute!(Ta Daa!*suspense*)
*The tavern is all quiet and the patrons are all feeling sleepy*
*The bard picks a board which says "Minstrels required, No pay" and throws it out of the window*
*Then he puts his leg on the bench where it was kept and the tights slid out of the cloak. The tights are bright green with red flamboyant shoes.*
*Plucks String*
All the patrons are attentive to this new intrusion, more so due to shocking dress sense. Then a bewitching voice with baritone, loaded with an enchantment to make it sound better, is heard.
"Everyone! Let me tell you a legend! A legend not of dragons and pretty trinkets but a legend of how darkness almost prevailed against light, but failed!"
O ye weary traveler!
Ye who yearns for healing voice of bards to quieten the guilt of friends not saved.
Ye who drowns in ale his sorrows of mortals ye released of their bodies.
Ye who were deceived -
and ye who lost allegiance.
And ye the one whose lands were torn asunder!
I bid thee all look in the Moon!
A maiden resides, with sorrow deeper than oceans and obstacles greater than mountains.
More than the years have passed on Faerun she has lost friends and children.
She spent her days in hiding fearing her life.
I bid thee all look in the Moon!
For she has yet not abandoned what ye are giving up.
Bearing witness to countless lives -
and yours being a drop in her ocean of sorrows -
she shares with ye and give ye a gift.
I bid thee all look in the Moon!
For she who has lost all gives.
She gives you HOPE!
our Lady of Silver - Selune.
The tavern is quite. Everybody applauses. The bard bows. The tavern keeper is about to offer a drink to the bard just when -
. . .
. . .
. . .
*The enchantment wears off*
Comments
I've learned what one finds is often the top part of something that goes much deeper than it seems. One person's take on this if you will. What you need now is a network of people to look into this, lest we miss something.
It's as complicated as...Lord Neverember's position on the city currently. On the surface, it seems simply it should be right or wrong he is there. But if one looks deeper, one finds, the inter-connections tell their own story.
Then he thinks, forming a group - that is something he has never done before. It must be nice to rely on others. He has heard rumors about Raven Knight Council. But only those closer to Raven Queen know the truth. Should he aim for a group like that?
the truthseeker smiles. "I've given you a lead and an option to peruse it. How you manage what you learned now is up to you."
Having been sent out to the "Tower District" brought its own hells. Saying the district was almost completely overrun by orcs was in itself an understatement of understatements. Even now, orcs still went after any person crossing into the guarded zone, not even seemingly caring that their life would be forfeit to the veteran guard battalion guarding the entrances so in a beserker rage they were to kill.
Plopping the courier's bag onto the table (he was allowed to keep the bag as a "thanks" once its contents were safely routed to the general and truth's mission successful,) truth began casting a simple but effective cantrip. In less than a few seconds, the bag lost all its dirt and bloodstains, but still was torn and ripped in multiple places.
Pulling out a pinch of residuum, truth went about the steps of casting a ritual. Ten minutes later, it consumed less than half a gold piece's worth of the pinch pulled.
Now restored was a fine courier's bag (with all emblems then promptly removed) that was worthy for enchantment. **
While too small for a Handy Haversack, it will make an excellent second bag of holding when I gather the remaining components to finish crafting it.
Feeling peckish, truth asks Imogene to get him some Beef stew and a wheat beer.
**He eats politely but voraciously, not even having to ask as Imogene provides him seconds (then thirds) of more stew.
Patting the item in his haversack shortly later, truth decides to investigate the newer implement at a future time. He'll decide whether simply to sell his older one, to offer it to anther of his adventuring companions, or whether it can be used as magical focus components, (but it was unlikely due to its lower condition from his other acquired crafting components.)**
An unsavory looking character (compared to the other ones who already could qualify for that moniker) entered, looking around for somebody specifically. His features were tall and almost gaunt, definitely angular, almost feral if looked at the right angle.
Seeing truth, he kept his hood up and cautiously approached him.
Truth seemed to not respond, eating his stew and drinking his beer, apparently oblivious to the person stalking him, as were the barkeep and wench.
Satisfied with his approach, the man planned his next move-avenue of introduction-when truth speaks up just enough to make sure it is clearly directed at the man,
“If you plan on stalking me all night, please finish before the post-midnight hours so I can get some rest. Now, come over here and tell me what you want.”
Truth holds up a hand as if to signal “I’ve got this.” Imogene and Edgar don’t seem to activate anything overtly or subtly that the “stranger” observes.
After a brief look of frustration (the look saying "I should have known better,") the stranger approached truth’s table. Kicking a chair out, truth says, “Have a seat.”
“I’d prefer…a more private location for our…negotiations.” The s in negotiations almost sounded like it was hissed.
Truth’s stew was finished by the time the "guest" approached the table, but hearing this response caused him to finish his beer in a couple of big swallows. Responding in an “Oh yeah?” manner, he replies,
“And why would that be? And why would I even agree?”
The stranger (doing everything to hide any look of confidence) simply opens a box, places a beret on the table long enough for truth to ascertain its owner (but not long enough for it to be used in any tracing methods,) picks it up and places it in the lead-lined box and closes it.
The truthseeker simply states, “I see you’ve…studied me and my methods. Including my last protected ward. Very well. Please trust me when I have to signal her over to allow access.”
Truthseeker signals over Imogene and neutrally states without any innuendo whatsoever,
“I’d like another Imogene and the same for my business associate here, but we’ll have it served elsewhere….please prepare privacy room one for a private business discussion. We are absolutely not to be disturbed under any circumstances. Please also show the exit door is…available for a discreet departure, as I’m sure our guest would not like to be seen where he must depart to when finished.”
Imogene simply nods and leaves briefly with truth’s glass, and opens a box behind the bar taking out its only contents: a single key made of Lead. Returning, she replies, “Gentlemen, could you please follow me?” Rising, both of them follow the server as she goes upstairs and down a hallway with several room doors on the side. Stopping at the end of the hallway, she presses a portion of the wall and a section rolls back. A lead door is seen with a basic looking keyhole. Imogene inserts and turns her key, and it makes a notable “click.” Oddly enough, the door makes almost no noise when opened as if impeccably oiled and maintained or magically treated.
[to be continued]
In one corner. a smaller bar is present for “private servings.” In the same side but opposite corner of the bar (as if to allow viewing those leaving or entering the location,) is another door made of the same metal material. Imogene points to a small knothole in a discreet area of a wall and asks, “If you could both verify what’s behind the wood please?” the stranger and truth both look and she asks, “I assume you both recognize the sheet alloy of lead, gold and adamantine to provide non detection and the cork behind that to soundproof the room without using magics?”
Both men nod.
Imogene goes over and unlocks the exit door with the key (with the same “click” sound,) and pulls open the door. Going back and first closing and locking the entry door with a “click” she next gestures for the two others to follow her.
Stepping outside, the three appear in a barely lit alley. Any indication of a door on this end is not seen and it looks as if the people “walked through a solid wall” into said alley. While not completely clear which street it is from this distance, some traffic is seen at the end of the alleyway leading to Neverwinter’s part of this city.
“And I guess this is the part where we prove the street over there is not an illusion,” she asks? Both nod. She responds, “Then let’s go. “ Walking to that street, then a turn off, they appear on a major street, where she walks up near the Manycoins bank.” Holding out one finger as in “one moment” she simply says, “This is far enough to see and hear me with him over there. You all know him well enough to see if it’s an illusion. Follow me when I hold out two fingers and not before.” Getting approval, she moves up and approaches the watch officer and warmly greets him as an old companion would.
“And a good eve’ to you Lieutenant Linkletter.”
“Always good to see you Imogene,” replied the Lieutenant! “Getting more ‘special requests’ for some ‘Whales’ of yours?”
“You know me too well Sir! Indeed, I was just returning with a few small but very pricey items. No need for an escort though. You know this girl can take care of herself!” She laughs as if sharing a secret with the man.
The Lt. laughs in turn as if sharing the secret and responds, “You know how to call us if things get bad. Don’t fleece those fat cats too much now, as I hate dealing with any official paperwork!”
Sharing a wink with the Lt. Imogene leaves and returns back where she was before but using a different path, holding out two fingers behind her back when properly far enough away from Linkletter to signal the others to follow her without suspicion.
Returning to the wall, they enter the door which Imogene closes but does not lock. Handing the key over to the truthseeker, she then takes two glasses out from the mini bar and fills them with one of the taps with more beer. She paces two coasters down and places the beers on them. She asks, “Will there be anything else before I leave you two to your privacy?”
“Yes Imogene, I want your other key also,” truth simply states.
“But you asked for privacy room one. You know there’s only one key for…”
“Stop it, no backups this time; your other key Imogene, now,” truth states firmly.
“Are you…”
“Yes,” truth interrupts not waiting for her to finish “sure?”!
Imogene bows her head briefly, and rolls down her stocking, removes the other key safely tucked in a sewn-in pocket and re-rolls up her stocking. She then hands over the key to truth with a look of reluctance.
“Thank you for understanding the sensitivity of our discussion. Again, absolutely no matter what, we are not to be disturbed!" Truth allows an almost pleading look in his eyes to be seen by her and she neutrally but politely states,
“I understand m’Lords. I hope all is resolved profitably for everybody. And a good eve to you if I should not see you again tonight m’Lord,” she states to the ‘gentleman’ with the truthseeker. With that, Imogene leaves the room.
[to be continued]
He then places one key on the table and repeats it with the other key, leaving both doors unlocked and open at the end. He offers the man to try it himself, which he repeats but choosing the keys in opposite order that truth did.
“Satisfied,” truth simply asks?
The man nods.
“Entry or Exit?”
“Entry.”
“On three then?”
The man nods.
“One…two…three.”
On three, both men get up taking a key, and head to their doors--the stranger taking the entry door, the truthseeker taking the exit door. They close their doors and lock it with a distinctive “click.” Returning to the tables, truth places the key back at the center which the stranger does also in kind placing it parallel to the other key.
The stranger speaks out,
“Now…before we begin, I do insist we remove all of our…shall we call them ‘toys’ and place them in some observed container? Your new holding container should do. Main weapons and implement foci first please?”
Truth nods as he takes out from his non-magical backpack a newly-enchanted holding bag from it, and places it on the floor to one side of the room. Several minutes pass as all magic items and non-magic items that can be used as a weapon are placed in the bag by both sides, both parties checking with their own methods of detecting magic.
The stranger points to a pin holding truth’s hair back. the truthseeker sighs and removes it; it reverting back to a hat and his actual appearance, as the man simply says, “Yoo are that race, I see.” Hands on his actual race exposed hips, truth looks for him to continue.
“Ahh, yes, if you could remove that last magic item please?”
“Excuse me? What item is that," retorts truth?
“The item on your belt that looks like a perfectly inert fashion stone like a rhinestone but actually bypasses the wards in this tavern. It allows you to cast magic and not be affected by the wards if you should activate it, and that normally does not detect as magical but is using a dweomer and uses a pre-Spellplague method of magic...one? “
The magnus simply nods, and covered his mouth almost mouthing more than whispering a command word below even the level of a rat’s hearing, and the gem detaches from his belt which he places in the bag. Satisfied, the man nods, and so does the mage, which he closes the bag up with a peace-bond.
Truth then gestures to the chairs, and both the men sit, truth allowing the man to take a chair facing the exit door, while he then takes an opposite facing chair facing the entry door. (Truth has an uncomfortable look on his face like now he is actually vulnerable [or constipated.])
Soldiering on, he starts.
“Now,” says truth, “I guess we should start our discussion. By the way, what name should I call you, Jon PerBach?”
The stranger bowed mockingly with sweeping hand, without rising from his chair.”
“Your intelligence gathering is correct as what I am called, not…necessarily who I am…but semantics. I know of your liking to be called as well…Edward Wentworth.”
Truth simply shrugs as if it were an old title, that uncomfortable look back for a moment.
“Yes yes, family of millers, father dropped dead at work after forty two years, mother actually continued his business with hired help, and we got by. Our generations proven our worth to own land that came and went thus the Surname. You being a top Fixer in the Luskan group down here is much more interesting. How is Luskan by the way?
Jon smiled thinly,
“Your Harper contacts should have already told you when I moved to Neverwinter and I haven’t returned there since.
How’s your health by the way? We were surprised you dropped so quickly, but didn’t expect a raise contingency. We promise we’ll be more…prepared in the future.”
the truthseeker smiled warmly which signified his absolute hatred of the man at this moment for bringing that up. The look of discomfort longer this time.
[to be continued]
[FONT=&]“Oh, I revived, and ‘finished’ with your "Sons." Nicely done on moving the Crown, and one of your own you couldn’t kill getting it caught in the ground zero of a Spellstorm blast. Even your own group turning on him didn’t see that one coming!
But about Ashleigh?”[/FONT]
“She is alive and well, where she always is. Under observation by my…trusted in disguise.”
“And your interest in, ‘talking’ to me this time instead of your ‘ogre diplomacy’ methods?”
Jon laughed.
“Yes, we observed that other adventuring party’s mission also. Greig thought himself very clever and yet was very stupid sending in an entire tribe-himself included-to try and get that artifact after the adventurers retrieved it from a rival…and not have any backup plan when they failed and ended up all dead. It’s not profitable anyway; let Valindra Shadowmantle deal with it.
But in answer to your question why we just didn’t send a large group of ours to finish what we started this time when you were most vulnerable instead of this direct discussion…you have a habit…of surviving, even when you don’t. We thought a new tactic more effective for your cooperation.”
“In other words, your boss’ boss Toytere' didn’t like Rsolk not succeeding but decided he-whom they are on good terms with still-too valuable to kill and used his ‘traditional’ method of blackmailing officials where they could be controlled outside of greed on an adventurer, but Rsolk would be too paranoid to risk a meeting directly, so you got sent--his right hand rat. "
Jon shrugged and said,
“You can’t beat tradition sometimes.
But back to our terms. We’ve been authorized to spare her life …or perhaps exposure to incurable horrible diseases we’ve saved for such ‘special occasions’ instead, if you’d agree to share certain…shall we say, ‘privileged’ information we know you get with your involvement with the Harper Network?"
the truthseeker's hands drop in somewhat resignation as the look of discomfort hits its peak almost like any opportunity he had, has now dropped. Raising his face in defeated but negotiating terms, he continues.
“And what guarantee do I have you won’t simply do this to her if I share this information anyway?”
Jon looked disappointed. "Now now, we underestimated you once; we’d hate to lose such a valuable asset of information by removing such a key piece of leverage. "
“You think the Owner will stand for this?”
“The owner doesn’t care as long as that person stays behind the scenes and collects their money. It was a stroke of genius for them to hire adventurers like you to man security-almost a clever idea to make you chief of security.”
“I’ll let him know you approve of his methods.
Actually, the hiring of adventurers was my idea; why I got chief of security out of it. But good job on you figuring that out, since we always acted as equals among everybody.
You know, like…your group, we came to an agreement with the watch, but a legal one at that even if they are mercenaries.
Speaking of, what’s to stop me from killing you right now?”
“My trusted are under orders to do….let’s say ‘something’ to her should I not report back at a predetermined location and range of time.”
“And what’s to stop me from ordering a raid of your entire organization sometime and forcing some kind of ‘exchange’ for Rsolk for all involved with Ashleigh so she can be moved?”
Jon laughed.
“I guess you’re not as wise as you are as smart. Do you really think I got permission through Rsolk for this operation? Kill them all if you wish.”
[to be continued]
“So the rumors of some Rats using a cell are true?”
“I would never admit to such a thing. Pity you didn’t think Cells involved you.”
“Actually, we did: John Pierre, Gersest, Resteal, Gerry-the ones you trusted to watch Ashleigh-and Oransk-the orc Slayer in Blackdagger you had keeping an eye on me-are all dead."
The sleeves Jon had “casually” rolled up that had the contact poison his wererat kind were immune to were immediately swiped at truth’s face when the mage blinked out reappearing several feet away and to the side and now on his feet, an orb somehow appearing hovering beside him, as a Chill Strike stalactite sized icicle literally pined Jon’s body to the side of a wall. Almost as rapidly, a mage’s hand slammed him, disrupting any powers he might have been able to do. Three bursts of Chill Strike Icicles slammed into him ripping his body way past bloodied. And finally, a mage hand grabbed the pinned Jon’s throat squeezing him as he attempted to shift into a smaller form, then reverted to a hybrid rat-human form.
“Let’s make this quick if you don’t want to instantly die Jonny. Are you the one in charge and is there anybody else?”
“But,…how….no magic left…”
Truth points to the now-hovering orb and a similar “decorative” crystal attached to it.
“The override that also suppresses detection? They come in pairs you [CENSORED] idiot! Use the same command word to activate and deactivate. One was off while the other was on. I knew you couldn’t tell an implement from an old school item just learned how to see if there was magic detecting on me or not which you thought you could now see was the crystal emanating through my spell aura.
As for where, that answer is...uncomfortable but I think you can guess the one place you didn't want to look."
"But, *wheeze* much more power…you failed….”
"The Tower and the orcs? Blackdagger? All an act to look like I wasn’t as powerful as I really was. Oh we finished Blackdagger all right, I just never reported the mission in to make your source report me failing! Like they would check an entire Fortress with the remaining enemies anyway?”
And I knew about the tailing for several tendays. But we didn’t know when you’d act. Now if you don’t want to die this very second, ANSWER ME!”
The grasping hand grasped even tighter, causing Jon PerBach to cough up blood.
“D—does it matter?”
“No, we vetted you. Know your cell is run by you, and many like your kind suffer too much arrogance when you think you have all the cards. Thought I’d ask just to see. But I’ll be honest with you, more than you were going to be with me,”
The pinning icicle winked out and the force hand disappeared as truth shot out a ray of frost slowly freezing the close to death Jon PerBach.
“You are going to die for threatening a little girl’s life,” truth said as the wererat screamed in agony in the soundproof room as the frost went up to his abdomen trapping him. “And because you chose somebody innocent under my ward, it’s going to hurt much much more than this! After all,” he hissed, “our kind knows something about vengeance and being able to wait a long time when we can!”
With that, truth slowly, very slowly, increased the Ray of Frost so it rose oh so very slowly up Jon PerBach’s, body, the agonizing pain the wererat felt beyond any description. Lifetimes of agony later, the final amount of his face and head was covered, and his body then shattered into exploding shards.
After a quick prestidigitation to…tidy himself and his new more powerful implement. Truth opened the sealed bag of holding, and took out a non-magical but waterproofed “garbage sack” often used in things like camping. He then begun the slow but ardent process of mage hand-ing the corpse’s pieces into the sack before they melted, finally sealing the sack with another peace-bond-effectively waterproofing and odorproofing the container. He then went through the bag of holding, removing and re-wearing his worn items, including his modified “Hat of Disguise,” and noting what he got from the “mini boss.” He opened the rear door and held a crystal by, but not through the illusionary wall on his end. It blinked and text floated over it as if scrolling. Reading the received message, he nodded, muttered a quick incarnation for a brief message spell, then closed and locked the exit door again.
Unlocking the entry door, truth exits to the hall, downstairs, and to the common room where Imogene had a “took you long enough” look sent to him. Edgar (besides slightly raising one eyebrow before lowing it just as quickly,) had no comment and looked extremely busy cleaning the bar at that moment.
“So am I to assume you negotiated your business?”
“Exactly as expected. Except he didn’t know any more about the owner. That’s a plus, because it means anybody else he ever talked to wouldn’t know anything new either. Oh,”
Handing over a bag, he continues,
"His stuff, I'm sure most of it is way underpowered for what you have, but sell what you don't use and place the proceeds in the normal location."
“You OK?”
“Fine, a little…uncomfortable, but tricks of the trade. All items and terms are…cleaned up. No personal questions about it…ever, please. No need to get another group or anything. The other Five have already been…negotiated with earlier as planned when we started. Theryis was a woman of her word on that end. It looks like all talks are closed. Everybody can just go back to what and where they were doing and going. No moving needed.”
Imogene said, "By the way, very nice in your tells. Only a seasoned professional would have thought maybe you were pandering to what they wanted to see. You were absolutely right about his arrogance, but not fooling somebody on my level of course!"
Thanks...I think," truth said while he winked at Imogene.
“Anything else we need to do about this?”
“I only have one thing left,”
He drops the sack near the front door,
“Remind the person closing up to take out the trash tonight.”
THE END
He is wearing a clock which covers everything but his plumed hat. His cloak is bright yellow and defeats the purpose of camouflage. It seems as if he is holding a weapon under the cloak - a lute!(Ta Daa!*suspense*)
*The tavern is all quiet and the patrons are all feeling sleepy*
*The bard picks a board which says "Minstrels required, No pay" and throws it out of the window*
*Then he puts his leg on the bench where it was kept and the tights slid out of the cloak. The tights are bright green with red flamboyant shoes.*
*Plucks String*
All the patrons are attentive to this new intrusion, more so due to shocking dress sense. Then a bewitching voice with baritone, loaded with an enchantment to make it sound better, is heard.
"Everyone! Let me tell you a legend! A legend not of dragons and pretty trinkets but a legend of how darkness almost prevailed against light, but failed!"
The tavern is quite. Everybody applauses. The bard bows. The tavern keeper is about to offer a drink to the bard just when -
. . .
. . .
. . .
*The enchantment wears off*
DUN DUN DUN!