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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4532149" data-attributes="member: 3285">Heart's Blood, Fire's Vengeance: Part 5 – Loose Lips Sink ShipsEvening was beginning to fall over the city.  They were hunted, and the streets were dangerous to traverse openly.“Well, that’s more blood on our hands,” said Sebastian.  He shook his head, deeply concerned.  “We have no allies now; not the cultists, and certainly not the Nierites.”Kham put one finger to his lips.  They pulled up short. He lifted a cocked pistol and pointed around the corner.  Kham counted with his fingers.  One.  Two. Three!Kham spun quickly around the corner.  A wounded cultist leaned against the wall.  “Don’t move.” Kham pointed a pistol at the cultist’s head.  “Jessica’s feeling punchy today.  Don’t give her a reason.”Mercy!  Mercy!” he whispered.  “I beg you, spare my life. You have touched the Eye.  I know it.  Sarish’s eye has fallen upon you, and your destiny is forever altered.  The Lord of Secrets knows you now.”“Yeah, everybody knows us,” said Kham.  “You’re not saying anything that doesn’t make me want to shoot you.”“I have information that you can use!  I know where the Cult of the Eye dwells.  I can tell you, but you must swear by Sarish to do me no harm.”“Fine, I…”Sebastian put one hand on Kham’s shoulder.  “Do not make such promises lightly.  There are grave consequences for breaking Sarish’s oath.”Kham shrugged him off.  “As I was about to say, I’m not swearing to anything.  Since Sebastian seems so concerned about keeping law and order around here, he can do the swearing.  I swear enough for the rest of us.”Sebastian took a deep breath.  “I swear by Sarish that, should your information lead us to the Cult, we will not intentionally harm you.”“Spoken like a true barrister,” said Kham with a smirk.“As you well know, the Erdukeen invaded Canceri.  They have imposed fines, levies, and a curfew.  Needless to say, they have made more than a few enemies within the Theocracy and the people.”“We noticed,” said Vlad.“Well, some of those people decided to revolt.  One man, Ralich is his name, called the faithful of Sarish together so that the Nierites might be purged from Nishanpur.  The cult has a grand scheme that requires the Eye of Sarish.  It is more than a relic dagger you see…it is a key.”“A key to what?” asked Beldin.“Please don’t say the grate to the sewers,” muttered Kham.“Ralich intends to loose the ancient daemons of Sarish upon the city.  While there are priests and clerics who can control daemons, what Ralich intends would take an army to withstand!  There is no time to explain the details to the authorities.  Now that he has the Eye, Ralich will begin the ritual soon.  You must stop him!”“Where is he?” asked Sebastian.“The entrance to the ritual site is through his shop, Nishanpur Store and Supply.  You should be able to find it in the back.” “Why are you betraying the cult?” asked Vlad.“Because Ralich is insane.  I chose to help free my people from the Erdukeens.  Nishanpur has always been a harsh place, but it was harsh because it had to be.  Our faith demands it.  I simply wanted to help my people.  Ralich is willing to destroy the city and everyone in it just to strike at the Nierites.  There is a difference between justice…and vengeance.”Sebastian thought about that as they left him.</blockquote>

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