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<blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 6610129" data-attributes="member: 12037"><p>Early the next day the group sat at a cafe just across and down the street from Thesidass’s shop eating breakfast. The shop itself didn’t have a sign, or a name for itself really. Neogi didn’t see the point in such things. They watched the shop discreetly for about an hour. There was a little traffic, but not many people moving in and out. And, all of those people appeared to be quite a bit more affluent than the four observers. The group knew that they themselves were not the clientele that Thesidass was after.</p><p></p><p>Still, they had to go in.</p><p></p><p>Slowly, they made their way in. They had heard of the shop before. Thesidass was famous, after all, for selling any and everything magical, and the storefront did not disappoint. The two umber hulk bouncers, however, were quite a discouraging sight. The foursome split apart and started to look around. Carmine had sent them here for some reason, even if they weren’t sure what it was. They weren’t about to leave any stone unturned if they could help it.</p><p></p><p>Weapons lined the walls, and armor stood on mannequins. A barrel of scrolls was in one corner, and a pile of wands in another. Seemingly mundane items like decks of cards, pouches, pipes, and even furniture was showcased. Even as they had a mission, they stood wondering what some of these things could possibly do. The weight of what was in just the front of the store was staggering to peruse for them. They who barely even had a platinum coin to their names.</p><p></p><p>Mozzy was the first one to notice something out of the ordinary. Her senses were a bit better at certain things than Aurian and Jer, both Prime, and Mehen was right behind her in spotting the portal. It was difficult to make out exactly where it went, but it seemed like this might be something Carmine was hinting at.</p><p></p><p>She was approaching it when she found a neogi between her and the door. Neogi, like a cross between a spider and an eel, are unsettling even to seasoned planeswalkers, of which Mozzy still was not one of. The creature was fast, and she almost fell back at the shock of it.</p><p></p><p>“Yeesss? What is it that this creature wants in my shop?” It’s large head swiveled around one side of Mozzy to the other. “Perhaps the waif has wandered in off the streets looking to get out of the rain. Perhaps… perhaps…” It crouched a bit, the head coming down to be level with Mozzy, looking her in the eye, its toothy mouth inches from her face. It’s voice was high pitched but raspy, like it wasn’t meant to be speaking like this but to be shrieking. In a way, she wished it was shrieking. This air of civility wasn’t fooling her. “What brings you here to Thesidass?” It was sure to take a look at Mehen, Aurian, and Jer to make a point that it knew they were all together.</p><p></p><p>Mozzy spoke up. She wasn’t about to let on to their true purpose. Not yet. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the portal yet. “Just looking around.”</p><p></p><p>“You look, you look.” It turned its head back in the direction of the door she was headed toward moments before, then swung back around to Mozzy. “Stay in here, yessss? Don’t get too curious, yessss? Doesn’t think you have the coin to pay, though. Not thieves are we?”</p><p></p><p>The umber hulks’ heads turned in unison toward Mozzy. Mozzy swallowed.</p><p></p><p>“We are assuredly not thieves,” Mehen spoke up. He stepped forward. The dragonborn did not have much subtlety in him. Whereas the others’ faction affiliations weren’t advertised to the world, his was, the Fraternity of Order symbol emblazoned upon a tabard he wore over his armor. No one could mistake it, and no one would dare wear such a thing unless they were a Guvner. He would stand no one would accusing him of being a thief, not even Thesidass.</p><p></p><p>“Truly, truly, little judge,” the neogi addressed him. The umber hulks relaxed just a bit, but held their gazes. “But, still, not customers. So, then what? This is my shop. My rules. You come and go at my word. And, if mistakes are made…” tick tick tick went its spider-like feet as it skittered past Mozzy and toward Mehen. “... by my faithful guards, then I cannot be held responsible. Perhaps… perhaps it would be good for you to remember this, yesssss? Thesidass thinks so.” It’s voice became low, and its mouth curled back in a snarl.</p><p></p><p>There was one last thing they could try. It was a long shot, but they needed information. Mozzy knew there was a portal in the shop, although she didn’t know where it went. “Thesidass.” The neogi turned to her, its head still low. By now the shop had emptied of any other customers. They were the only ones foolish enough to still be there. “You have people coming and going here, correct? We aren't the only intruders? How would you like it if that stopped. How would you like it if we put a stop to it?” She kept her eyes even, her jaw stiff. The neogi would find any hesitation weakness.</p><p></p><p>Thesidass relaxed, the sneer fading, and it stood up again. “Thesidass would find such a thing pleasing. Yesss…” It tilted its head slightly, thinking. “Pleasing, yes. Worthy of reward” Mozzy shot a look to the others. “But, is this a thing you promise?”</p><p></p><p>It wasn’t something they could do yet. They didn’t have the key. But, perhaps they had a way back into the shop without being torn limb from limb by umber hulks.</p><p></p><p>“No. Not yet.”</p><p></p><p>“Then it is time for you to leave.”</p><p></p><p>They didn’t have to be asked twice.</p><p></p><p>Their troubles, however, did not end outside the shop. Almost as if they were waiting for the group were two individuals who Aurian and Jer recognized instantly. Red Wake, they called themselves, Jaut and Bake. Jaut was the one that came up to them. He was a large individual, completely covered, head to toe, in armor. The armor was finely crafted and adorned with the symbol of the Mercykillers on the right breast. A visor covered his face, and in his gauntlets, he gripped a large greatsword which he was using as a walking stick, still in its sheath. It was said that he never removed the armor, and countless rumors abounded about why that was.</p><p></p><p>Bake stayed back, watching, at an easy distance and leaning against a wall. He was a smaller individual, githzerai, wearing a light chain shirt with a sword at his side and a shield strapped to his back. He appeared to be amused by the confrontation.</p><p></p><p>“I couldn’t help but notice that you entered that shop there,” Jaut motioned with his free arm slightly, “but came out with nothing. It doesn’t look like your kind of place anyway.” It was impossible to get a read on him without seeing his face. No one in the group responded, although they stopped for him. His reputation told them that they didn’t want to slight him, but at the same time, they didn't want to have any dealings with him. He continued, unperturbed. “I think you’re looking for a certain curse breaker.”</p><p></p><p>“We have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mehen replied stepping forward. </p><p></p><p>“I think I misspoke. Because I know that’s what you’re doing. You aren’t being as discreet as you think you are. And, I think I’ve got just the deal for you. Take this,” he tossed a silver coin to Mehen, who caught it and examined it. Closely. There was a faint aura of magic on the thing, though he really had to concentrate to see it. “All you have to do is leave this wherever you find the cursebreaker. That simple. You do that, and we owe you.”</p><p></p><p>Mehen wanted to ask what if they didn't agree. But, he already knew the answer.</p><p></p><p>Satisfied, the two walked away. Things were getting more complicated.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ThirdWizard, post: 6610129, member: 12037"] Early the next day the group sat at a cafe just across and down the street from Thesidass’s shop eating breakfast. The shop itself didn’t have a sign, or a name for itself really. Neogi didn’t see the point in such things. They watched the shop discreetly for about an hour. There was a little traffic, but not many people moving in and out. And, all of those people appeared to be quite a bit more affluent than the four observers. The group knew that they themselves were not the clientele that Thesidass was after. Still, they had to go in. Slowly, they made their way in. They had heard of the shop before. Thesidass was famous, after all, for selling any and everything magical, and the storefront did not disappoint. The two umber hulk bouncers, however, were quite a discouraging sight. The foursome split apart and started to look around. Carmine had sent them here for some reason, even if they weren’t sure what it was. They weren’t about to leave any stone unturned if they could help it. Weapons lined the walls, and armor stood on mannequins. A barrel of scrolls was in one corner, and a pile of wands in another. Seemingly mundane items like decks of cards, pouches, pipes, and even furniture was showcased. Even as they had a mission, they stood wondering what some of these things could possibly do. The weight of what was in just the front of the store was staggering to peruse for them. They who barely even had a platinum coin to their names. Mozzy was the first one to notice something out of the ordinary. Her senses were a bit better at certain things than Aurian and Jer, both Prime, and Mehen was right behind her in spotting the portal. It was difficult to make out exactly where it went, but it seemed like this might be something Carmine was hinting at. She was approaching it when she found a neogi between her and the door. Neogi, like a cross between a spider and an eel, are unsettling even to seasoned planeswalkers, of which Mozzy still was not one of. The creature was fast, and she almost fell back at the shock of it. “Yeesss? What is it that this creature wants in my shop?” It’s large head swiveled around one side of Mozzy to the other. “Perhaps the waif has wandered in off the streets looking to get out of the rain. Perhaps… perhaps…” It crouched a bit, the head coming down to be level with Mozzy, looking her in the eye, its toothy mouth inches from her face. It’s voice was high pitched but raspy, like it wasn’t meant to be speaking like this but to be shrieking. In a way, she wished it was shrieking. This air of civility wasn’t fooling her. “What brings you here to Thesidass?” It was sure to take a look at Mehen, Aurian, and Jer to make a point that it knew they were all together. Mozzy spoke up. She wasn’t about to let on to their true purpose. Not yet. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the portal yet. “Just looking around.” “You look, you look.” It turned its head back in the direction of the door she was headed toward moments before, then swung back around to Mozzy. “Stay in here, yessss? Don’t get too curious, yessss? Doesn’t think you have the coin to pay, though. Not thieves are we?” The umber hulks’ heads turned in unison toward Mozzy. Mozzy swallowed. “We are assuredly not thieves,” Mehen spoke up. He stepped forward. The dragonborn did not have much subtlety in him. Whereas the others’ faction affiliations weren’t advertised to the world, his was, the Fraternity of Order symbol emblazoned upon a tabard he wore over his armor. No one could mistake it, and no one would dare wear such a thing unless they were a Guvner. He would stand no one would accusing him of being a thief, not even Thesidass. “Truly, truly, little judge,” the neogi addressed him. The umber hulks relaxed just a bit, but held their gazes. “But, still, not customers. So, then what? This is my shop. My rules. You come and go at my word. And, if mistakes are made…” tick tick tick went its spider-like feet as it skittered past Mozzy and toward Mehen. “... by my faithful guards, then I cannot be held responsible. Perhaps… perhaps it would be good for you to remember this, yesssss? Thesidass thinks so.” It’s voice became low, and its mouth curled back in a snarl. There was one last thing they could try. It was a long shot, but they needed information. Mozzy knew there was a portal in the shop, although she didn’t know where it went. “Thesidass.” The neogi turned to her, its head still low. By now the shop had emptied of any other customers. They were the only ones foolish enough to still be there. “You have people coming and going here, correct? We aren't the only intruders? How would you like it if that stopped. How would you like it if we put a stop to it?” She kept her eyes even, her jaw stiff. The neogi would find any hesitation weakness. Thesidass relaxed, the sneer fading, and it stood up again. “Thesidass would find such a thing pleasing. Yesss…” It tilted its head slightly, thinking. “Pleasing, yes. Worthy of reward” Mozzy shot a look to the others. “But, is this a thing you promise?” It wasn’t something they could do yet. They didn’t have the key. But, perhaps they had a way back into the shop without being torn limb from limb by umber hulks. “No. Not yet.” “Then it is time for you to leave.” They didn’t have to be asked twice. Their troubles, however, did not end outside the shop. Almost as if they were waiting for the group were two individuals who Aurian and Jer recognized instantly. Red Wake, they called themselves, Jaut and Bake. Jaut was the one that came up to them. He was a large individual, completely covered, head to toe, in armor. The armor was finely crafted and adorned with the symbol of the Mercykillers on the right breast. A visor covered his face, and in his gauntlets, he gripped a large greatsword which he was using as a walking stick, still in its sheath. It was said that he never removed the armor, and countless rumors abounded about why that was. Bake stayed back, watching, at an easy distance and leaning against a wall. He was a smaller individual, githzerai, wearing a light chain shirt with a sword at his side and a shield strapped to his back. He appeared to be amused by the confrontation. “I couldn’t help but notice that you entered that shop there,” Jaut motioned with his free arm slightly, “but came out with nothing. It doesn’t look like your kind of place anyway.” It was impossible to get a read on him without seeing his face. No one in the group responded, although they stopped for him. His reputation told them that they didn’t want to slight him, but at the same time, they didn't want to have any dealings with him. He continued, unperturbed. “I think you’re looking for a certain curse breaker.” “We have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mehen replied stepping forward. “I think I misspoke. Because I know that’s what you’re doing. You aren’t being as discreet as you think you are. And, I think I’ve got just the deal for you. Take this,” he tossed a silver coin to Mehen, who caught it and examined it. Closely. There was a faint aura of magic on the thing, though he really had to concentrate to see it. “All you have to do is leave this wherever you find the cursebreaker. That simple. You do that, and we owe you.” Mehen wanted to ask what if they didn't agree. But, he already knew the answer. Satisfied, the two walked away. Things were getting more complicated. [/QUOTE]
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