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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2999626" data-attributes="member: 3448">While the Archduke and Dame Brionna handled ceremonial matters, a few of their less noticeable comrades went to the poorer quarters of the city to investigate.  Twang, the enthusiastic kobold, had trouble following most of the details of the political matters being discussed.  But he understood that he needed to investigate the costumed people distributing money to provoke a riot, and that was all he needed to understand.  Stythus accompanied the young kobold invisibly, to add an extra pair of eyes and to protect Twang if things went sour.Twang quickly found one of the least reputable taverns in the city.  Even in the poorest parts of the city, a kobold draws plenty of attention, but Twang did a reasonable job of blending in-- just another poor creature trying to get a tankard of ale.  After glancing at him a little, the bar keep decided that his copper was as good as anyone else's and drew an ale for him.  Twang immediately set to work on it, the tankard comicly large in his small hands, while he and Stythus waited.After only a few minutes, a thin figure with harlequin make-up, including a full coating of white face with a prominent black lightning bolt through one eye, stepped gracefully into the tavern.  The harlequin thrust his hand into a pouch and came out with a fistful of silver that he scattered on the floor.  "Throw a rock, earn a silver.  If you strike a guardsman, I'll make it two." Another handful clattered about the tavern's floor.  "Throw a stick."Stythus stared at the demagogue carefully.  He did not detect any psionic activity from the figure, exactly, but there was definitely something there, a patina of psionic activity over the figure.  He relayed this silently to Twang, who hopped down from the bar and swaggered over."I take coin, but why you give?  I new here.  Why you want throw stone?"The harlequin looked down at the kobold.  "My lord is devoted to ending the rule of this unjust lord Alistair. Perhaps you would throw a pail of paint?" He offered a small bucket to Twang from a concealed place in the pouch, which had a surprisingly large volume for its small size."I do that." While Twang continued talking, Stythus drifted closer, examining the psionic aura.  After a moment, he was sure: it was a farsensing aura, not generated by the harlequin, but the effect of some other psion's power.But as Stythus realized that, the harlequin looked up and stared directly at him.  The strange figure reached out a hand towards Stythus and spoke, his voice sounding slightly different than it had before, although that might simply be the note of command in it.  "Who are you, where are you, you will speak to me..."Stythus recoiled from the harlequin, but could not move quickly enough.  The figure stiffened like a statue and stopped speaking.  But Stythus could feel the farsensor's presence as it reached into his mind.  Unable to repel it, he stood helpless as it searched through his memory and identified his connection to the Archduchy.<<The Archduke's personal squire?>> Stythus heard in his mind.  <<What has this fool done?>>The harlequin collapsed to the ground, not breathing.  Stythus could see the patina of psionic energy fade, as he felt that his mind was free once more.  He sent a message to Twang.  <>As soon as it was clear that the harlequin was dead, most of the other people in the tavern dove on the purse, coming away with great handfuls of money.  Only the barkeep stood aloof, sure that any coins they might get would find their way into his pouch soon enough.  <<They'll want to see his body at the palace.>> Twang thought back to Stythus.A moment later, Stythus reentered the tavern, having shaped his form to resemble the uniform of the city guard.  "What's this?  Stand aside for the Watch.  What's going on?"The other occupants of the tavern quickly stepped aside with whatever coins they had managed to grab.  Twang stepped forward and gestured at the harlequin.  "This man, he come in here, he give job, he fall down.  Take away."Stythus hoisted the harlequin up on his shoulders.  "Thank you.  We'll handle it now."Twang returned to his drink after Stythus left with the body.  After he finished draining the tankard, he found Stythus in an alley around the corner.  He relieved the body of its bag of holding, noting with pleasure that it was still full of coins and paint to throw on guardsmen, and they quickly made their way back to the palace.</blockquote>

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