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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PhoenixAsh" data-source="post: 2841269" data-attributes="member: 18230">Update #35: A Job OfferIefan reflects on Sasha’s post, two long years in Blackstone.  Over those two years Sasha has done everything that could be asked of her and more.  And yet conditions have not improved, they have deteriorated.  She has won over a few scattered people in The Fallen, but far too few and they can do little to champion the cause of their district.   The criminals and corrupt in the city have begun to use Fallen as a training ground or for cruel entertainment, subjecting prisoners to the Raver gangs and taking bets on how long they last.  Sasha has stood against them, both putting her life on the line in the defense of the Fallen’s inhabitants and taking her complaints to the city government, yet nothing is done.  It is an issue all too easy to ignore and Sasha suspects corruption amidst the government itself.  He is inclined to agree.Yet Sasha’s persistence had appeared to pay off, an aid package was drafted by the City Council for Fallen, money that would be earmarked for the restoration of the district and finally end the eighty-year tragedy.  Yet the Lord Mayor struck it down, dedicating the money to House Cannith for structural repairs to other towers, to prevent something of the same scale from happening again.  At least, that was the line for the Sharn Inquisitor.‘Every city has its slums,’ the convenient excuse of those in power to ignore the plight of the downtrodden.  Iefan Conway puts the files away and dismisses the light with a hasty gesture.“Sasha, you need help.”***Ruel,I have an unexpected matter that has come up and was wondering if you and your friends would be willing to aid me.  There is some urgency involved but I will make it worth your time.  My residential suite is located in Silvervine, in the Ocean View District.Erma“Who was this again?” Dox asks.“Don’t you remember, that elf always carrying clay around?” Alexandre replies.  The small note itself is sealed with red clay instead of wax.“Oh yeah, she seemed nice.” Dox nods.  “So where is Ruel anyways?”“He said he had an errand to run,” Audric shrugs.  “He should be back soon.  Regardless, it is late and we will not call until the morning.  He believes we should go, I agree.”Alexandre makes a face, “A job huh?  Well, it better pay well, better than all the money we’re raking in gambling, eh Dox?”Dox smiles, “Nothing wrong with quitting while we’re ahead.  How ‘bout Loki and Elisa?”Audric nods, “They are weapon shopping, but both she and Loki agreed it would be a good idea.  I believe she was quite eager to try out her new magic greatsword.”Alexandre slaps them on the back, “Right, that settles it, so long as the pay is good, we’ll do it.”***Elisa grins as she returns with Loki to the Boar’s Head, “What are you going to do with that harpoon?  Go fishing?”Loki smiles, “Not exactly.  I thought it might be a good way to… retrieve any foe that would choose to flee from us.”Elisa lifts an eyebrow, “Interesting!  Think you could hit that old beggar over there?”  She points to an old man shambling out from an alleyway.“What old beggar?  All I see is Ruel,” Loki answers.“Where are you looking, can’t you… huh,” Elisa frowns.  The old man she saw is gone.  Instead she sees Ruel walking into the Boar’s Head.  “That’s weird.”“Let’s go inside,” Loki shrugs.***Jack squints as the Irregulars give him the address of Ermineth d’Phiarlan’s home and studio, “Aye, I know the place.  That district’s pretty upper crust, you’ll need to ditch your weapons.”Elisa looks crestfallen, but the Irregulars stow their weapons back in their room, then follow Jack.  The Oceanview district is gated and the guards question their business and search them for weapons, before waving them through.  They approach an impressive spire where a bugbear in fine livery stands at the doorway.“Welcome to Silvervine, you’re expected,” he says gruffly.  “Ermineth d’Phiarlan is on the third floor, to the left.“Thank you,” Ruel answers quickly.  The Irregulars take a broad stairway to Ermineth’s studio and the white-haired elf is waiting for them.  She smiles up at Ruel, “Thank you for coming.  Please, come inside.”Her studio is lavish.  Exquisite statues are set in niches within the walls, and smaller pieces are laid out in sealed glass displays amidst her comfortable furniture.  The aging elf is clearly not a starving artist.  She leads them through the halls to a crowded workshop, where shaping and carving tools as well as large blocks of clay are set haphazardly.  Half-finished sculptures and stacked sketches litter her long worktables.  A section of the room is sealed off behind a dark curtain“I will get right to the point,” Ermineth begins after the Irregulars find places to stand inside.  “My studio has been broken into.  I pay well for twenty-four hour security and arcane protection of a rather expensive sort.  Yet there was no sign of these burglars’ entry.  Only one thing was stolen.”  She pulls aside the black curtain.  A glass display case is set therein, completely empty.  Beside it, lays a body in dirty clothes.  There is neither blood nor obvious marks of a struggle on the body, or around it.Dox immediately moves forward, bending down by the body, “Who is this?  What happened here?”“I have been robbed, Dox.  Though I must say I have far more valuable items to casual thieves than this item, but then, my security arrangements are enough to deter casual thieves,” Ermineth chuckles.  “Who this is, I do not know exactly, save that he is a Raver, without any doubt.Audric circumnavigates the glass display case slowly as Ermineth speaks, then shakes his head.  “There is no damage to the case, none at all.”Ermineth nods, “I have been over it very carefully.  It was not visibly disturbed.”“Magic then,” Ruel reasons.  “There are spells for opening locks and retrieving items discreetly that could account for this.  When did this occur, Ermineth?”“Last night sometime.  I do not doubt your assertion Ruel, but…”“After this much time, we are unlikely to find lingering magical auras,” Ruel finishes, nodding.  “I suspect that if we did, there would be little chance of finding and retrieving the object in any event, the abilities of the thief would likely outclass most any detection.”Dox studies the dead man carefully.  He is dressed in grungy clothes, but they might have been fine clothing once.  Now they are no more than rags.  The man is heavily scarred and tattooed, but one of his tattoos on his hands catches his attention, a stylized stone between two clasped hands. “What is this here, on his palm?”  Dox asks, lifting the man’s hand.“A Raver clan symbol,” Ermineth nods.Elisa clears her throat from the back of the group of Irregulars, “What exactly was stolen?”Ermineth smiles, “Forgive me dear, you will need to know that won’t you?  I have a sketch of it, but quite simply it is the marble arm of a statue.”  Ermineth produces a rolled parchment and presents it to Elisa for inspection.Alexandre rubs his chin, “How’d you come across this arm?”Ermineth looks to him, “I was present in Sharn when the glass tower fell.  Like many others I was curious, and I walked around what is now Fallen.  I found it on the streets.  It is exquisite, more life-like than the work of many who consider themselves fine sculptors.  I took it; better off in my hands then a callous looter.  I have kept it since and long sought the whole statue.”“This is a bit of a setback,” Loki comments.“Perhaps,” the elderly elf smiles, “But I prefer to think of it as an opportunity.  The statue was no doubt lost in Fallen.  These Ravers may have other pieces or the whole statue in their possession.  Therefore, I am prepared to make the following offer to you.She clears her throat, “Recover the arm, I will reward you with 500 gold pieces.”Alexandre grouses under his breath, “Split six ways, that’s poor booty for a dangerous voyage.”Ermineth’s expression twinkles, “Recover the whole statue, I will make that gold platinum.”Alexandre whistles, “That’s a sight better!  Count us in lass!”“Wonderful!” Ermineth laughs.  “There is a woman you should consult with in Fallen.  Her name is Sasha Larkana, you can find her at the old Blackstone church, just inside the district’s gates.  She is as close to an expert on Ravers that exists in Sharn.  She might be able to tell you what that tattoo represents and where to find the others like him.”***“What??  You want to go where!?  Are you daft ‘Xandre?  That district is the worse of a bad lot in the bowels of Sharn, no one goes there!” One-Eyed Jack sputters, outside the Boar’s Head.“Come on old mate, it’ll be an adventure, just like old times!  We could use your sharp eyes and steady hand, whatd’ya say, one more time for an old mate?” Alexandre grins.“You’re my mate and I’ll see you safely through most anywhere in this city ‘Xandre, where otherwise...” Jack trails off.  “I’ll see you to the gates, if you must, but no farther.  That district is cursed, haunted and a deathtrap.  If you’d heard half the things I have, you wouldn’t be going.”“Aye, mayhaps,” Alexandre muses, then grins.  “But we haven’t and we are, so lead on Jack!  Just a shame you won’t get a share of the treasure once we’re done.”As the Irregulars start on their way, Loki turns to Elisa.  “Seems like there will be blood to shed, I hope we do not walk to our deaths.”Elisa smiles, reaching back to clap the scabbard of her massive new greatsword.  “Bring it on.  Bring it on.”</blockquote>

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