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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3647489" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p>Rhema decided that she had rested enough and was able to stand up. The cookbook had intrigued her, and she wanted a piece of the action after having been lying down for so long. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Cookbook? Now there’s an interesting place to hide some information. Mind if I take a look?”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus smiled and skimmed over the page one last time before closing the book, using his thumb as a bookmark. Rhema slowly walked over to his position and slipped her finger in the gap between the pages created by his thumb. Once her finger was in the book, Ischarus released his grip and allowed Rhema to take possession.</p><p></p><p>Her left hand found the gap in the pages and folded the book open. Her eyes couldn’t really believe what they were seeing. It was a legitimate cookbook with some legitimate recipes. The entry immediately preceding the one that had caught Ischarus’ attention was for steamed vegetables with a honey glaze sauce. Her eyes skimmed the recipe and decided that the simple recipe was reasonable.</p><p></p><p>Once her morbid curiosity about the recipe was satisfied, her eyes turned to the recipe for Stink Lily. Clearly, it was not a cooking recipe. Instead it was a list designed to look like a list of ingredients. She read the list aloud to herself and Ischarus. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Pahk, Thealle, Skuundar, Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Allyssa, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra.”</span></p><p></p><p>She paused for a moment, allowing the information to absorb into her mind. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“That’s interesting to say the least. The way that the list is designed to look like a series of ingredients is absolutely uncanny.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus was a bit ahead of Rhema’s thoughts since he had spent a few more minutes in contact with the names. <span style="color: LightBlue">“I recognize six of those names, of course. Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra are the ones that we already went against. Do you recognize any of the others?”</span></p><p></p><p>The gentle elven voice of the female Wizard’s College guard startled the pair as it intruded upon their private conversation. <span style="color: Lime">“Thealle is known to me. She is a full blooded elf here within the Wizard’s College. She had been studying under our associate. In fact, he had requested to work with her. Now, it makes sense. She has a passion for research, especially in discovering substances with potential magical abilities. She really enjoyed any excuse to enter into the library and immerse herself for hours in the books. I can’t imagine that she’ll be too hard to find.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus moved so that he could once again look at the list, although he was still looking over Rhema’s right shoulder. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Well, perhaps that tells us something. I was a bit concerned that I didn’t recognize the first three on the list, especially when I realized that the ones I did recognize seemed to be in a descending order of importance.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema returned her eyes to the list. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“You’re right, Ischarus. Of the names that I recognize, the list fits a general description of strength and importance that Ophee told us earlier. So that makes one that we don’t know in the middle and three at the top of the list.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus nodded with the words of his wife. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Yeah, that’s what had me a bit worried. Brandt was sent after Jerome, and that was not exactly a simple battle if I understand what happened. Since there are three names above Jerome, I had been thinking that it might not be a good sign. But if Thealle is a simple researcher here in the college, maybe there is a reason that those three names are at the top of the list.”</span></p><p></p><p>The half-elven guard smiled as if she enjoyed information not known by the other two. <span style="color: Lime">“Well, she’s not just a researcher.”</span> She paused until Ischarus and Rhema looked up to her face. <span style="color: Lime">“She is an apprentice to a powerful wizard. Depending on what magic she was taught, I would dare say she could be as skilled in the use of magic as any of you or I.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus nodded at the correction. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Would you care to alert the others of your order to see if they know anything more about these other names? There’s no sense getting Semeion or Charis involved quite yet, because they still might turn up something else.”</span></p><p></p><p>The female guard spoke flatly. <span style="color: Lime">“I’ll get Mallus. Being a routine security officer means he’s more likely to know faces and names.”</span></p><p></p><p>The half-elven woman spun on her heels and was gone for a little over a minute. When she returned, she brought the associate who had given up his invisibility first after the fight with the succubus. Mallus stepped over to Rhema and held out a hand to examine the book. <span style="color: Lime">“May I examine the list that you have found?”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema handed the book over to the Wizard’s College guard and watched for any change of expression. After a few moments the guard’s face developed a slight sarcastic grin which was followed by several knowing nods. He bit his lower lip for several seconds while his eyes gave the impression that he was deep in thought.</p><p></p><p>He examined the book for nearly a minute and then spoke while looking at the list, seemingly avoiding eye contact with Ischarus and Rhema. <span style="color: Lime">“Pahk I know well. Pahk is best described as the wizard’s servant. Although in truth, slave is probably a better term. Pahk was, or perhaps is, highly devoted to the wizard. The story was that the wizard had saved him from a terrible fate and in exchange Pahk served the wizard willingly. Looking on the situation in the light of today’s findings, I would not be surprised if Pahk was kept continuously under the effect of the Arum Dracunculus and used as a slave. He’s what we here in the Wizard’s College rightly refer to as a Dolos. That’s the name they prefer to give themselves, although fables and myths have given them a different name: goblin. You probably know the type. They’re the short little guys that mythology tells as having sharp teeth and thieving hands.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema smiled as she thought back to the one who had taught her to use her mind as a force. She knew the type, but to her they weren’t scary or vicious. Their appearance had made them misunderstood. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Yeah, I know the type. Some of them are quick intelligent and have a mind for magic and mental acuity, right?”</span></p><p></p><p>Mallus nodded, impressed by Rhema’s conclusion. His eyes drifted up off of the book and met hers. <span style="color: Lime">“Indeed. You have a greater respect for their abilities than most. Either way, I can tell you that Pahk has been working for his master quite loyally for several years. I believe that he would learn a few minor magical tricks in exchange for his services, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Pahk is brighter than normal. To exist in the Wizard’s College for any length of time, one cannot have diminished mental capacities.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus continued with his recollection of the list. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Well, that would explain why Pahk is at the top of the list. If I recall correctly, that leaves one more near the top and one in the middle that we could not identify. Do you know all the rest on the list?”</span></p><p></p><p>Mallus shook his head. <span style="color: Lime">“No. Actually, it would seem that you know more than I do. The only names on this list that are even remotely familiar are Pahk, Thealle, and Skuundar. Thealle and Pahk you have been told about. Skuundar is an interesting character. We don’t get many dwarves who qualify for the requirements of the Wizard’s College, but Skuundar surprised most of us. Like Thealle, he has a knack for researching. Unlike Thealle, his area of expertise is cultural history.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded, easily accepting the information. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Not unusual for a true dwarf, assuming that Skuundar is dwarven to the core.”</span></p><p></p><p>Mallus laughed, exposing a crack in the carapace of reserved diligence that had grown over his personality ever since he had been chastised about the necessary improvements needed to the Wizard’s College security procedures. <span style="color: Lime">“There is nothing un-dwarven about Skuundar, really. Son of dwarves, he was raised with dwarven pride. He can count back nearly forty generations of true dwarves. He knows a good bit of the royal history of the line from which King Rupert comes. In fact, I think he can recite a good bit of the pedigree from the majority of dukes, lords, and earls of Tongra.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion’s voice broke in upon the gathering. <span style="color: Plum">“Well, that would be important to the wizard’s plan. He was planning on exposing weaknesses in the leadership of Tongra and assuming control of the confederacy. To do that, he’d need to know from where they came.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion was standing in the doorway, and he hadn’t been there long. He walked over to the book and looked around Mallus’ left shoulder to get a glimpse of the page that had everyone else’s attention. He shook his head as his mind tried to twist itself around the sickness that would be present in a mind that would put this kind of list in a cookbook.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus caught Semeion and Mallus up to speed on the rest of the names. For Semeion’s benefit, Ischarus explained the first several names. <span style="color: LightBlue">“The first three seem to be people that the wizard used here within the Wizard’s College to gather the information that he needed.”</span> He paused to indicate that his audience was changing from Semeion to Mallus. <span style="color: LightBlue">“The other names, save Allyssa, are people that we have already taken into custody. One in each of the significant towns of Tongra: Eberdeen, Juniper, Bacrothen, Reignsburg, Partuss, and Classo.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema finished Ischarus’ thought for him. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“That leaves Allyssa as the final piece to the puzzle.”</span></p><p></p><p>A dark smile passed across Semeion’s face. <span style="color: Plum">“I know my kind, as painful as that may be for me to admit from time to time. Think about it. What hole recently developed in the wizard’s plan? What’s missing from the list that Ischarus just gave us?”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus and Rhema both immediately understood Semeion assertion. Ischarus spoke first. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Fingerdale.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded in agreement. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Yeah, Fingerdale. Our backyard.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled. <span style="color: Plum">“Yep, we removed Ophee from his plan. There would need to be a substitute.”</span></p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p>Rhema decided that she had rested enough and was able to stand up. The cookbook had intrigued her, and she wanted a piece of the action after having been lying down for so long. “Cookbook? Now there’s an interesting place to hide some information. Mind if I take a look?”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus smiled and skimmed over the page one last time before closing the book, using his thumb as a bookmark. Rhema slowly walked over to his position and slipped her finger in the gap between the pages created by his thumb. Once her finger was in the book, Ischarus released his grip and allowed Rhema to take possession.</p><p></p><p>Her left hand found the gap in the pages and folded the book open. Her eyes couldn’t really believe what they were seeing. It was a legitimate cookbook with some legitimate recipes. The entry immediately preceding the one that had caught Ischarus’ attention was for steamed vegetables with a honey glaze sauce. Her eyes skimmed the recipe and decided that the simple recipe was reasonable.</p><p></p><p>Once her morbid curiosity about the recipe was satisfied, her eyes turned to the recipe for Stink Lily. Clearly, it was not a cooking recipe. Instead it was a list designed to look like a list of ingredients. She read the list aloud to herself and Ischarus. “Pahk, Thealle, Skuundar, Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Allyssa, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra.”</p><p></p><p>She paused for a moment, allowing the information to absorb into her mind. “That’s interesting to say the least. The way that the list is designed to look like a series of ingredients is absolutely uncanny.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus was a bit ahead of Rhema’s thoughts since he had spent a few more minutes in contact with the names. “I recognize six of those names, of course. Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra are the ones that we already went against. Do you recognize any of the others?”</p><p></p><p>The gentle elven voice of the female Wizard’s College guard startled the pair as it intruded upon their private conversation. “Thealle is known to me. She is a full blooded elf here within the Wizard’s College. She had been studying under our associate. In fact, he had requested to work with her. Now, it makes sense. She has a passion for research, especially in discovering substances with potential magical abilities. She really enjoyed any excuse to enter into the library and immerse herself for hours in the books. I can’t imagine that she’ll be too hard to find.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus moved so that he could once again look at the list, although he was still looking over Rhema’s right shoulder. “Well, perhaps that tells us something. I was a bit concerned that I didn’t recognize the first three on the list, especially when I realized that the ones I did recognize seemed to be in a descending order of importance.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema returned her eyes to the list. “You’re right, Ischarus. Of the names that I recognize, the list fits a general description of strength and importance that Ophee told us earlier. So that makes one that we don’t know in the middle and three at the top of the list.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus nodded with the words of his wife. “Yeah, that’s what had me a bit worried. Brandt was sent after Jerome, and that was not exactly a simple battle if I understand what happened. Since there are three names above Jerome, I had been thinking that it might not be a good sign. But if Thealle is a simple researcher here in the college, maybe there is a reason that those three names are at the top of the list.”</p><p></p><p>The half-elven guard smiled as if she enjoyed information not known by the other two. “Well, she’s not just a researcher.” She paused until Ischarus and Rhema looked up to her face. “She is an apprentice to a powerful wizard. Depending on what magic she was taught, I would dare say she could be as skilled in the use of magic as any of you or I.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus nodded at the correction. “Would you care to alert the others of your order to see if they know anything more about these other names? There’s no sense getting Semeion or Charis involved quite yet, because they still might turn up something else.”</p><p></p><p>The female guard spoke flatly. “I’ll get Mallus. Being a routine security officer means he’s more likely to know faces and names.”</p><p></p><p>The half-elven woman spun on her heels and was gone for a little over a minute. When she returned, she brought the associate who had given up his invisibility first after the fight with the succubus. Mallus stepped over to Rhema and held out a hand to examine the book. “May I examine the list that you have found?”</p><p></p><p>Rhema handed the book over to the Wizard’s College guard and watched for any change of expression. After a few moments the guard’s face developed a slight sarcastic grin which was followed by several knowing nods. He bit his lower lip for several seconds while his eyes gave the impression that he was deep in thought.</p><p></p><p>He examined the book for nearly a minute and then spoke while looking at the list, seemingly avoiding eye contact with Ischarus and Rhema. “Pahk I know well. Pahk is best described as the wizard’s servant. Although in truth, slave is probably a better term. Pahk was, or perhaps is, highly devoted to the wizard. The story was that the wizard had saved him from a terrible fate and in exchange Pahk served the wizard willingly. Looking on the situation in the light of today’s findings, I would not be surprised if Pahk was kept continuously under the effect of the Arum Dracunculus and used as a slave. He’s what we here in the Wizard’s College rightly refer to as a Dolos. That’s the name they prefer to give themselves, although fables and myths have given them a different name: goblin. You probably know the type. They’re the short little guys that mythology tells as having sharp teeth and thieving hands.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema smiled as she thought back to the one who had taught her to use her mind as a force. She knew the type, but to her they weren’t scary or vicious. Their appearance had made them misunderstood. “Yeah, I know the type. Some of them are quick intelligent and have a mind for magic and mental acuity, right?”</p><p></p><p>Mallus nodded, impressed by Rhema’s conclusion. His eyes drifted up off of the book and met hers. “Indeed. You have a greater respect for their abilities than most. Either way, I can tell you that Pahk has been working for his master quite loyally for several years. I believe that he would learn a few minor magical tricks in exchange for his services, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Pahk is brighter than normal. To exist in the Wizard’s College for any length of time, one cannot have diminished mental capacities.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus continued with his recollection of the list. “Well, that would explain why Pahk is at the top of the list. If I recall correctly, that leaves one more near the top and one in the middle that we could not identify. Do you know all the rest on the list?”</p><p></p><p>Mallus shook his head. “No. Actually, it would seem that you know more than I do. The only names on this list that are even remotely familiar are Pahk, Thealle, and Skuundar. Thealle and Pahk you have been told about. Skuundar is an interesting character. We don’t get many dwarves who qualify for the requirements of the Wizard’s College, but Skuundar surprised most of us. Like Thealle, he has a knack for researching. Unlike Thealle, his area of expertise is cultural history.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded, easily accepting the information. “Not unusual for a true dwarf, assuming that Skuundar is dwarven to the core.”</p><p></p><p>Mallus laughed, exposing a crack in the carapace of reserved diligence that had grown over his personality ever since he had been chastised about the necessary improvements needed to the Wizard’s College security procedures. “There is nothing un-dwarven about Skuundar, really. Son of dwarves, he was raised with dwarven pride. He can count back nearly forty generations of true dwarves. He knows a good bit of the royal history of the line from which King Rupert comes. In fact, I think he can recite a good bit of the pedigree from the majority of dukes, lords, and earls of Tongra.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion’s voice broke in upon the gathering. “Well, that would be important to the wizard’s plan. He was planning on exposing weaknesses in the leadership of Tongra and assuming control of the confederacy. To do that, he’d need to know from where they came.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion was standing in the doorway, and he hadn’t been there long. He walked over to the book and looked around Mallus’ left shoulder to get a glimpse of the page that had everyone else’s attention. He shook his head as his mind tried to twist itself around the sickness that would be present in a mind that would put this kind of list in a cookbook.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus caught Semeion and Mallus up to speed on the rest of the names. For Semeion’s benefit, Ischarus explained the first several names. “The first three seem to be people that the wizard used here within the Wizard’s College to gather the information that he needed.” He paused to indicate that his audience was changing from Semeion to Mallus. “The other names, save Allyssa, are people that we have already taken into custody. One in each of the significant towns of Tongra: Eberdeen, Juniper, Bacrothen, Reignsburg, Partuss, and Classo.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema finished Ischarus’ thought for him. “That leaves Allyssa as the final piece to the puzzle.”</p><p></p><p>A dark smile passed across Semeion’s face. “I know my kind, as painful as that may be for me to admit from time to time. Think about it. What hole recently developed in the wizard’s plan? What’s missing from the list that Ischarus just gave us?”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus and Rhema both immediately understood Semeion assertion. Ischarus spoke first. “Fingerdale.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Fingerdale. Our backyard.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled. “Yep, we removed Ophee from his plan. There would need to be a substitute.”</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3647489, member: 35788"] Rhema decided that she had rested enough and was able to stand up. The cookbook had intrigued her, and she wanted a piece of the action after having been lying down for so long. [Color=PaleGreen]“Cookbook? Now there’s an interesting place to hide some information. Mind if I take a look?”[/Color] Ischarus smiled and skimmed over the page one last time before closing the book, using his thumb as a bookmark. Rhema slowly walked over to his position and slipped her finger in the gap between the pages created by his thumb. Once her finger was in the book, Ischarus released his grip and allowed Rhema to take possession. Her left hand found the gap in the pages and folded the book open. Her eyes couldn’t really believe what they were seeing. It was a legitimate cookbook with some legitimate recipes. The entry immediately preceding the one that had caught Ischarus’ attention was for steamed vegetables with a honey glaze sauce. Her eyes skimmed the recipe and decided that the simple recipe was reasonable. Once her morbid curiosity about the recipe was satisfied, her eyes turned to the recipe for Stink Lily. Clearly, it was not a cooking recipe. Instead it was a list designed to look like a list of ingredients. She read the list aloud to herself and Ischarus. [Color=PaleGreen]“Pahk, Thealle, Skuundar, Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Allyssa, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra.”[/Color] She paused for a moment, allowing the information to absorb into her mind. [Color=PaleGreen]“That’s interesting to say the least. The way that the list is designed to look like a series of ingredients is absolutely uncanny.”[/Color] Ischarus was a bit ahead of Rhema’s thoughts since he had spent a few more minutes in contact with the names. [Color=LightBlue]“I recognize six of those names, of course. Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra are the ones that we already went against. Do you recognize any of the others?”[/Color] The gentle elven voice of the female Wizard’s College guard startled the pair as it intruded upon their private conversation. [Color=Lime]“Thealle is known to me. She is a full blooded elf here within the Wizard’s College. She had been studying under our associate. In fact, he had requested to work with her. Now, it makes sense. She has a passion for research, especially in discovering substances with potential magical abilities. She really enjoyed any excuse to enter into the library and immerse herself for hours in the books. I can’t imagine that she’ll be too hard to find.”[/Color] Ischarus moved so that he could once again look at the list, although he was still looking over Rhema’s right shoulder. [Color=LightBlue]“Well, perhaps that tells us something. I was a bit concerned that I didn’t recognize the first three on the list, especially when I realized that the ones I did recognize seemed to be in a descending order of importance.”[/Color] Rhema returned her eyes to the list. [Color=PaleGreen]“You’re right, Ischarus. Of the names that I recognize, the list fits a general description of strength and importance that Ophee told us earlier. So that makes one that we don’t know in the middle and three at the top of the list.”[/Color] Ischarus nodded with the words of his wife. [Color=LightBlue]“Yeah, that’s what had me a bit worried. Brandt was sent after Jerome, and that was not exactly a simple battle if I understand what happened. Since there are three names above Jerome, I had been thinking that it might not be a good sign. But if Thealle is a simple researcher here in the college, maybe there is a reason that those three names are at the top of the list.”[/Color] The half-elven guard smiled as if she enjoyed information not known by the other two. [Color=Lime]“Well, she’s not just a researcher.”[/Color] She paused until Ischarus and Rhema looked up to her face. [Color=Lime]“She is an apprentice to a powerful wizard. Depending on what magic she was taught, I would dare say she could be as skilled in the use of magic as any of you or I.”[/Color] Ischarus nodded at the correction. [Color=LightBlue]“Would you care to alert the others of your order to see if they know anything more about these other names? There’s no sense getting Semeion or Charis involved quite yet, because they still might turn up something else.”[/Color] The female guard spoke flatly. [Color=Lime]“I’ll get Mallus. Being a routine security officer means he’s more likely to know faces and names.”[/Color] The half-elven woman spun on her heels and was gone for a little over a minute. When she returned, she brought the associate who had given up his invisibility first after the fight with the succubus. Mallus stepped over to Rhema and held out a hand to examine the book. [Color=Lime]“May I examine the list that you have found?”[/Color] Rhema handed the book over to the Wizard’s College guard and watched for any change of expression. After a few moments the guard’s face developed a slight sarcastic grin which was followed by several knowing nods. He bit his lower lip for several seconds while his eyes gave the impression that he was deep in thought. He examined the book for nearly a minute and then spoke while looking at the list, seemingly avoiding eye contact with Ischarus and Rhema. [Color=Lime]“Pahk I know well. Pahk is best described as the wizard’s servant. Although in truth, slave is probably a better term. Pahk was, or perhaps is, highly devoted to the wizard. The story was that the wizard had saved him from a terrible fate and in exchange Pahk served the wizard willingly. Looking on the situation in the light of today’s findings, I would not be surprised if Pahk was kept continuously under the effect of the Arum Dracunculus and used as a slave. He’s what we here in the Wizard’s College rightly refer to as a Dolos. That’s the name they prefer to give themselves, although fables and myths have given them a different name: goblin. You probably know the type. They’re the short little guys that mythology tells as having sharp teeth and thieving hands.”[/Color] Rhema smiled as she thought back to the one who had taught her to use her mind as a force. She knew the type, but to her they weren’t scary or vicious. Their appearance had made them misunderstood. [Color=PaleGreen]“Yeah, I know the type. Some of them are quick intelligent and have a mind for magic and mental acuity, right?”[/Color] Mallus nodded, impressed by Rhema’s conclusion. His eyes drifted up off of the book and met hers. [Color=Lime]“Indeed. You have a greater respect for their abilities than most. Either way, I can tell you that Pahk has been working for his master quite loyally for several years. I believe that he would learn a few minor magical tricks in exchange for his services, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Pahk is brighter than normal. To exist in the Wizard’s College for any length of time, one cannot have diminished mental capacities.”[/Color] Ischarus continued with his recollection of the list. [Color=LightBlue]“Well, that would explain why Pahk is at the top of the list. If I recall correctly, that leaves one more near the top and one in the middle that we could not identify. Do you know all the rest on the list?”[/Color] Mallus shook his head. [Color=Lime]“No. Actually, it would seem that you know more than I do. The only names on this list that are even remotely familiar are Pahk, Thealle, and Skuundar. Thealle and Pahk you have been told about. Skuundar is an interesting character. We don’t get many dwarves who qualify for the requirements of the Wizard’s College, but Skuundar surprised most of us. Like Thealle, he has a knack for researching. Unlike Thealle, his area of expertise is cultural history.”[/Color] Rhema nodded, easily accepting the information. [Color=PaleGreen]“Not unusual for a true dwarf, assuming that Skuundar is dwarven to the core.”[/Color] Mallus laughed, exposing a crack in the carapace of reserved diligence that had grown over his personality ever since he had been chastised about the necessary improvements needed to the Wizard’s College security procedures. [Color=Lime]“There is nothing un-dwarven about Skuundar, really. Son of dwarves, he was raised with dwarven pride. He can count back nearly forty generations of true dwarves. He knows a good bit of the royal history of the line from which King Rupert comes. In fact, I think he can recite a good bit of the pedigree from the majority of dukes, lords, and earls of Tongra.”[/Color] Semeion’s voice broke in upon the gathering. [Color=Plum]“Well, that would be important to the wizard’s plan. He was planning on exposing weaknesses in the leadership of Tongra and assuming control of the confederacy. To do that, he’d need to know from where they came.”[/Color] Semeion was standing in the doorway, and he hadn’t been there long. He walked over to the book and looked around Mallus’ left shoulder to get a glimpse of the page that had everyone else’s attention. He shook his head as his mind tried to twist itself around the sickness that would be present in a mind that would put this kind of list in a cookbook. Ischarus caught Semeion and Mallus up to speed on the rest of the names. For Semeion’s benefit, Ischarus explained the first several names. [Color=LightBlue]“The first three seem to be people that the wizard used here within the Wizard’s College to gather the information that he needed.”[/Color] He paused to indicate that his audience was changing from Semeion to Mallus. [Color=LightBlue]“The other names, save Allyssa, are people that we have already taken into custody. One in each of the significant towns of Tongra: Eberdeen, Juniper, Bacrothen, Reignsburg, Partuss, and Classo.”[/Color] Rhema finished Ischarus’ thought for him. [Color=PaleGreen]“That leaves Allyssa as the final piece to the puzzle.”[/Color] A dark smile passed across Semeion’s face. [Color=Plum]“I know my kind, as painful as that may be for me to admit from time to time. Think about it. What hole recently developed in the wizard’s plan? What’s missing from the list that Ischarus just gave us?”[/Color] Ischarus and Rhema both immediately understood Semeion assertion. Ischarus spoke first. [Color=LightBlue]“Fingerdale.”[/Color] Rhema nodded in agreement. [Color=PaleGreen]“Yeah, Fingerdale. Our backyard.”[/Color] Semeion smiled. [Color=Plum]“Yep, we removed Ophee from his plan. There would need to be a substitute.”[/Color] [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] Rhema decided that she had rested enough and was able to stand up. The cookbook had intrigued her, and she wanted a piece of the action after having been lying down for so long. “Cookbook? Now there’s an interesting place to hide some information. Mind if I take a look?” Ischarus smiled and skimmed over the page one last time before closing the book, using his thumb as a bookmark. Rhema slowly walked over to his position and slipped her finger in the gap between the pages created by his thumb. Once her finger was in the book, Ischarus released his grip and allowed Rhema to take possession. Her left hand found the gap in the pages and folded the book open. Her eyes couldn’t really believe what they were seeing. It was a legitimate cookbook with some legitimate recipes. The entry immediately preceding the one that had caught Ischarus’ attention was for steamed vegetables with a honey glaze sauce. Her eyes skimmed the recipe and decided that the simple recipe was reasonable. Once her morbid curiosity about the recipe was satisfied, her eyes turned to the recipe for Stink Lily. Clearly, it was not a cooking recipe. Instead it was a list designed to look like a list of ingredients. She read the list aloud to herself and Ischarus. “Pahk, Thealle, Skuundar, Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Allyssa, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra.” She paused for a moment, allowing the information to absorb into her mind. “That’s interesting to say the least. The way that the list is designed to look like a series of ingredients is absolutely uncanny.” Ischarus was a bit ahead of Rhema’s thoughts since he had spent a few more minutes in contact with the names. “I recognize six of those names, of course. Jerome, Darr, Haroth, Ehre, Eliah, and Barra are the ones that we already went against. Do you recognize any of the others?” The gentle elven voice of the female Wizard’s College guard startled the pair as it intruded upon their private conversation. “Thealle is known to me. She is a full blooded elf here within the Wizard’s College. She had been studying under our associate. In fact, he had requested to work with her. Now, it makes sense. She has a passion for research, especially in discovering substances with potential magical abilities. She really enjoyed any excuse to enter into the library and immerse herself for hours in the books. I can’t imagine that she’ll be too hard to find.” Ischarus moved so that he could once again look at the list, although he was still looking over Rhema’s right shoulder. “Well, perhaps that tells us something. I was a bit concerned that I didn’t recognize the first three on the list, especially when I realized that the ones I did recognize seemed to be in a descending order of importance.” Rhema returned her eyes to the list. “You’re right, Ischarus. Of the names that I recognize, the list fits a general description of strength and importance that Ophee told us earlier. So that makes one that we don’t know in the middle and three at the top of the list.” Ischarus nodded with the words of his wife. “Yeah, that’s what had me a bit worried. Brandt was sent after Jerome, and that was not exactly a simple battle if I understand what happened. Since there are three names above Jerome, I had been thinking that it might not be a good sign. But if Thealle is a simple researcher here in the college, maybe there is a reason that those three names are at the top of the list.” The half-elven guard smiled as if she enjoyed information not known by the other two. “Well, she’s not just a researcher.” She paused until Ischarus and Rhema looked up to her face. “She is an apprentice to a powerful wizard. Depending on what magic she was taught, I would dare say she could be as skilled in the use of magic as any of you or I.” Ischarus nodded at the correction. “Would you care to alert the others of your order to see if they know anything more about these other names? There’s no sense getting Semeion or Charis involved quite yet, because they still might turn up something else.” The female guard spoke flatly. “I’ll get Mallus. Being a routine security officer means he’s more likely to know faces and names.” The half-elven woman spun on her heels and was gone for a little over a minute. When she returned, she brought the associate who had given up his invisibility first after the fight with the succubus. Mallus stepped over to Rhema and held out a hand to examine the book. “May I examine the list that you have found?” Rhema handed the book over to the Wizard’s College guard and watched for any change of expression. After a few moments the guard’s face developed a slight sarcastic grin which was followed by several knowing nods. He bit his lower lip for several seconds while his eyes gave the impression that he was deep in thought. He examined the book for nearly a minute and then spoke while looking at the list, seemingly avoiding eye contact with Ischarus and Rhema. “Pahk I know well. Pahk is best described as the wizard’s servant. Although in truth, slave is probably a better term. Pahk was, or perhaps is, highly devoted to the wizard. The story was that the wizard had saved him from a terrible fate and in exchange Pahk served the wizard willingly. Looking on the situation in the light of today’s findings, I would not be surprised if Pahk was kept continuously under the effect of the Arum Dracunculus and used as a slave. He’s what we here in the Wizard’s College rightly refer to as a Dolos. That’s the name they prefer to give themselves, although fables and myths have given them a different name: goblin. You probably know the type. They’re the short little guys that mythology tells as having sharp teeth and thieving hands.” Rhema smiled as she thought back to the one who had taught her to use her mind as a force. She knew the type, but to her they weren’t scary or vicious. Their appearance had made them misunderstood. “Yeah, I know the type. Some of them are quick intelligent and have a mind for magic and mental acuity, right?” Mallus nodded, impressed by Rhema’s conclusion. His eyes drifted up off of the book and met hers. “Indeed. You have a greater respect for their abilities than most. Either way, I can tell you that Pahk has been working for his master quite loyally for several years. I believe that he would learn a few minor magical tricks in exchange for his services, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Pahk is brighter than normal. To exist in the Wizard’s College for any length of time, one cannot have diminished mental capacities.” Ischarus continued with his recollection of the list. “Well, that would explain why Pahk is at the top of the list. If I recall correctly, that leaves one more near the top and one in the middle that we could not identify. Do you know all the rest on the list?” Mallus shook his head. “No. Actually, it would seem that you know more than I do. The only names on this list that are even remotely familiar are Pahk, Thealle, and Skuundar. Thealle and Pahk you have been told about. Skuundar is an interesting character. We don’t get many dwarves who qualify for the requirements of the Wizard’s College, but Skuundar surprised most of us. Like Thealle, he has a knack for researching. Unlike Thealle, his area of expertise is cultural history.” Rhema nodded, easily accepting the information. “Not unusual for a true dwarf, assuming that Skuundar is dwarven to the core.” Mallus laughed, exposing a crack in the carapace of reserved diligence that had grown over his personality ever since he had been chastised about the necessary improvements needed to the Wizard’s College security procedures. “There is nothing un-dwarven about Skuundar, really. Son of dwarves, he was raised with dwarven pride. He can count back nearly forty generations of true dwarves. He knows a good bit of the royal history of the line from which King Rupert comes. In fact, I think he can recite a good bit of the pedigree from the majority of dukes, lords, and earls of Tongra.” Semeion’s voice broke in upon the gathering. “Well, that would be important to the wizard’s plan. He was planning on exposing weaknesses in the leadership of Tongra and assuming control of the confederacy. To do that, he’d need to know from where they came.” Semeion was standing in the doorway, and he hadn’t been there long. He walked over to the book and looked around Mallus’ left shoulder to get a glimpse of the page that had everyone else’s attention. He shook his head as his mind tried to twist itself around the sickness that would be present in a mind that would put this kind of list in a cookbook. Ischarus caught Semeion and Mallus up to speed on the rest of the names. For Semeion’s benefit, Ischarus explained the first several names. “The first three seem to be people that the wizard used here within the Wizard’s College to gather the information that he needed.” He paused to indicate that his audience was changing from Semeion to Mallus. “The other names, save Allyssa, are people that we have already taken into custody. One in each of the significant towns of Tongra: Eberdeen, Juniper, Bacrothen, Reignsburg, Partuss, and Classo.” Rhema finished Ischarus’ thought for him. “That leaves Allyssa as the final piece to the puzzle.” A dark smile passed across Semeion’s face. “I know my kind, as painful as that may be for me to admit from time to time. Think about it. What hole recently developed in the wizard’s plan? What’s missing from the list that Ischarus just gave us?” Ischarus and Rhema both immediately understood Semeion assertion. Ischarus spoke first. “Fingerdale.” Rhema nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Fingerdale. Our backyard.” Semeion smiled. “Yep, we removed Ophee from his plan. There would need to be a substitute.” [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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