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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nebulous" data-source="post: 4729555" data-attributes="member: 31465">Adventure #2:  Merple’s MissionPART ONE<img src="http://www.zikadik.com/silverymoon/silver1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />A full week has passed since Douvan’s incident with Balthazar of the Potion Emporium.  He hasn’t seen the wizard since and was not going to worry about it, that is, until the morning he and Merric Littlefoot receive a message at the Green Dragon Inn.  It’s from Merple himself, and he wants to speak with them immediately at his shop on Diagon Alley. <img src="http://www.zikadik.com/silverymoon/silverdawn.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Merric hasn’t been paid yet for his last mission to Winterhaven where he and Douvan dug up a magic mirror from the grave of a dead dragon.  But Merric knows happened to Merple…he was turned into a frog by a spiteful wizard, and for all Douvan knew, Merple was still in that state.  Or worse. They trudge through town and pound on the door to Merple’s shop, answered at once by “Yes! Yes, come in!”  The door swings open of its own volition as it always does, and they are treated again to the smoky dark interior of Merp the Moneylender’s abode. <img src="http://www.zikadik.com/silverymoon/merp2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />The squat Halfling is seated behind his desk, but his face is an unusual greenish pallor. He is constantly dabbing himself with a handkerchief and sweating profusely. “Ah, Merric, Douvan, good to see you, good to see you.  Have a seat, have a seat.”Merple explains quickly why he has asked them here.  It is about Balthazar, and Merple makes it quite clear that he wants something personal now…revenge.  Balthazar is a menace the Halfling explains, full of himself and his magic and thinks he’s above retribution.  Well, that’s just not true, no, no, no, and Merple wants to put that bastard in his place once and for all!“I’ve been eating flies for days!” the Halfling whispers harshly, his watery eyes following a small buzzing insect even now.  He licks his lips, and then shudders, revolted. Merple’s plan is simple.  Trusted sources have told him that Balthazar travels once a month south to Everlund and returns with sacks of gold. How and why no one knows, but Merple is sure beyond a shred of doubt that it is an illegal venture, he can feel it in his bones.  One unscrupulous businessman knows another, and Merple thinks that the wizard has his fingers in dirty business.Now, Balthazar is too powerful to confront directly, but if the heroes were to follow him, acting as mercenaries on the caravan guard, and poke around where Balthazar goes, they might dig up information.  Bring this information back to Merple so he can find a way to exploit Balthazar, compromise him, and bring him down by subtle, conniving, methods.The mission sounds good to the ranger and rogue, and Merple tells them that he has hired two others as well, in case they need more eyes and ears in Everlund.  Jolen is a trustworthy cleric of Tempus, and his female companion Nari-lana is a genasi swordmage.  They can find them at sunset at the Green Tankard Inn to discuss their mission in private. The merchant caravan will leave South Gate the following morning, and Balthazar will be on it. “Say nothing to him!” the Halfling insists.  “Do not mention me, not even if asked directly.  You were hired by the Merchant’s Guild, and leave it at that.”A price for their services is agreed upon and they shake on it. Douvan and Merric leave and return to the Green Tankard Inn to meet their accomplices at sundown.  As expected, the cleric of Tempus and the genasi arrive through the front doors later that evening.  The priest is a tall, imposing man, clad in stout metal armor proudly bearing the insigna of Tempus, the god of war.  The genasi woman, a rare species not often seen, and one who invokes stares from the commonfolk, stands at his side, a broadsword strapped to her back, her head bald and brown and riddled with small cracks of amber light.  Her eyes are bright and pupiless. The group becomes acquainted over dinner and leave with the agreement to meet again the next morning at South Gate.Dawn arrives cold, blue and invigorating, and the caravan is quickly assembled.  There are three wagons drawn by horses and mules, a driver for each, and about ten other travelers and guards accompanying the troupe.  Balthazar of the Potion Emporium arrives soon afterward, a red pseudodragon draped around his neck like a scaly scarf. <img src="http://www.zikadik.com/silverymoon/baltha.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Douvan wonders if the mage will recognize him, so Douvan keeps his distance, pulls his helm down low and avoids eye contact.  If anything though, it is the pseudodragon’s sense of smell that will place him at the scene of Merple’s “mishap”.</blockquote>

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