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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4439372" data-attributes="member: 3285">The Seventh Sin: Part 3 – Eastward Ho!Dusk was settling on Freeport as they headed east along the route that Ilmarė took before vanishing. The buildings they passed were an assortment of small stores and workshops, together with the occasional inn, tavern or small residence; none particularly stood out as a place to start looking for clues. The street bustled with merchants, servants, carts, and litters, all hurrying to get their business done before nightfall. Most people were concentrating entirely on their own affairs, but a few were simply watching or waiting. A tall, raven-haired woman with the ready smile and emotionless eyes of a professional courtesan surveyed the passing crowd as she walked; her clothing, while provocative, was tasteful and well made, suggesting a higher class of harlot. Vlad approached the woman.  She put on a practiced smile.  “Looking for anything in particular?”“We’re looking for an Osalikene elorii woman,” said Beldin.  “She has silver and purple hair.”“I can be her if you like.”  With a few arcane gestures, the woman transformed herself into a beautiful young female elorii, the mirror image of Ilmarė. “Elorii must be the current fashion; this is the second day in a row that someone has come looking for an elorii companion.”Sebastian and Vlad exchanged worried looks. “You’re a spitting image of her,” said Sebastian.  “So you’ve obviously seen her.  Where was she last?”The woman crossed her arms and transformed back to her original form. “There are paying customers I could be spending my time with, you know.”Vlad handed her a purse full of gold doubloons.  “Fifty should do it.”Beldin looked sideways at Vlad, but kept his mouth shut.“Around this time yesterday, a hooded elorii man was wandering around here and asking if there were any elorii courtesans in town.  I slipped off around the corner, changed my appearance, and approached the man.  However, before we could strike a deal, he figured it out.  He left after that, but I heard him muttering something about ‘finding one tonight’ and ‘taking her back to the Pillar.’”“The Golden Pillar Society,” said Sebastian.  “This can’t be good.”“You Vlad Martell?” asked the courtesan.“I am,” said Vlad.  “You know of me?”“Don’t flatter yourself,” the courtesan said with a smirk.  She pulled a slip of paper out of her bodice.  “I was instructed to give this note to Vlad Martell if he came looking for this elorii woman.”Vlad took the note.“There was someone else looking for her?” asked Sebastian.  “Did you get a good look at him?”The courtesan shrugged.  “I never actually saw him; I only heard him.  He paid me well to deliver the message too.  As a general rule, I don’t trifle with sorcerers.”Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.  “Then you shouldn’t start now.”“We’ve got bigger problems.” Vlad finished reading the note. “The author of this note claims he knows where Ilmarė is.” “And?” asked Beldin.“He wants us to meet him at a warehouse.”Sebastian sighed.  “I hate warehouses.”</blockquote>

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