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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4701818" data-attributes="member: 3285">Sibling Rivalry: PrologueNot long after Paolo Tuminardo left, the door swung open and a figure in a very heavy cloak and hood entered. Small amounts of snow fell from his shoulders as he pulled back his hood. The face revealed that of a young man, with a thick tangle of black hair and a ready smile that seemed out of place among the dour and no-nonsense people of the Widow’s Stone. Scanning the room, his eyes fall upon Vlad. His infectious smile became even broader. “Vlad!”Vlad stood up.  “Decimus?”Decimus walked over to their table. “Greetings, my friends. For those who do not know of me, I am Decimus -- a humble facilitator. I’m sorry to meet you under such mysterious circumstances, but it would not be seemly to make such my patron travel to meet us.”Sebastian and Beldin met Decimus with a quizzical look.  “Meet us about what, Decimus?” asked Vlad.  “Last we met, you were trading in a contract for your freedom.”Decimus nodded as he pulled up a chair.  “I did indeed, and I was granted that freedom.  I work for myself now, but I’m still in the same business.”  He smiled again.  “Old habits die hard.”“Who’s your patron?” asked Beldin.“My patron is a highly placed member of the Beltinian church and would rather keep the subject we are about to discuss from spilling out into the open. I trust I can count on your prudence in this matter?” Vlad looked at his two companions. “Sure, you can trust us.”“Besides attending to the spiritual well-being of the good people of Valentia and the Empire, my patron also provides funds for those scholars who delve into the ancient past and seek out knowledge and artifacts from eras long since gone.  He is very interested in Quintus’ recent work.”“We’ve heard of his expedition,” said Sebastian.  “And we’ve also heard that he hasn’t been back.”“I have already sent out a search party to discover the whereabouts of the second team, but I need you to find Quintus, secure his safety, and if he is close to making his discovery, assist him if at all possible.” “We were going after him already,” said Vlad.  “The Gracchi family is—““The Gracchi?” Decimus looked horrified. “Yes, what’s wrong?”“The Gracchi are one of the noble vassal human families of the val’Assante’ family. The family is quite prominent in Imperial politics, having not one but two of its members serving in the Imperial Senate. The Gracchi have a reputation for being shrewd, cunning and ruthless in their dealings.”“So?” asked Beldin.“The Gracchi matriarch, Luca Gracchi, is a personal friend and confidant of the Emperor. Her involvement may mean that the Emperor himself is interested in these artifacts.”“Then we’d better get going.” Vlad kicked back his chair.  “We’ll find him and let you know what we discover.”“Good.” Decimus offered a document to Sebastian.  “This writ will bring you back over the mountains. Just present it to the priests at the Shrine.” Sebastian took the writ and added it to the one Paolo Tuminardo had given to him on behalf of the Gracchi family.“Time is of the essence. You’ll need to be ready to leave in the next few hours. Though evening has fallen, there are still a few merchants open where you can purchase winter clothing and any other gear you may need. I will meet you at the Ansharan Temple in the city in three hours.” “We’ll be there,” said Sebastian.”With a slight nod of his head, Decimus departed.Beldin crossed his arms. “I don’t trust either of them.”“Me neither,” said Sebastian.  “Maybe we should find Quintus first before we worry about who we hand him over to.” Vlad rose.  “Let’s go.”</blockquote>

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