Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 2967796" data-attributes="member: 12037">"Yes, but how much did you get paid for doing all that?"-Factotum Black Dagger of the Fated, talking to a Sensate.Session 7/8/06 - In Search OfFinally, after endless assassination attempts, they had a name to go with the unknown person who was after them. The four of them, Jackal, Malbi, Stock, and newly recruited Grum brooded in their tower and contemplated their next move. His name was Caradver, a Factotum in the Dustmen. Hopefully, they could find him and put and end to these endless assassination attempts – one way or the other. But, first, they had to find him, and all they had to go on was a name. And, the best person they knew to help them was Black Dagger, a Factotum himself in the Fated, and Jackal’s associate.The party had cut a deal with him, and now they were just waiting for him to show up, each making do with the time they had on their hands. Stock spent most of his time working with the guards outside the tower and keeping them on their toes. Grum was still getting used to living in the tower and the fact that his old room was formerly occupied by a mind flayer. Jackal mostly drank to pass the time, contemplating what he would do to Caradver when he finally got his hands on him. And, Malbi spent all his free time either working in his lab or working with his apprentice.Then, there was a knocking on the door. On the other side was their guard Captain, Benjamin. “That Black Dagger is here to see you. Says he found something.”“This better turn out not to be a wild goose chase.” Jackal was grumbling as they walked to the Hive, Black Dagger taking the lead. They had been through the Hive a lot recently, and the desolate streets were starting to become somewhat familiar.“Don’t worry. I heard that he can point you to Caradver.” Black Dagger looked sure of himself. But, then again, he always looked sure of himself.“So, what’s the plan once we get there?” Malbi stayed close, still not trustful of the inhabitants in the area, and rightly so. They did have assassins after them.“We fight?” asked Grum. He didn’t seem worried.“Maybe. We can try talking first, though, I suppose.” said Jackal.Grum sighed. He had been working full time with them for a few weeks now, and he had been in less fights than promised.As they made their way down the looping streets and alleyways, their conversation went in and out as they thought about the situation.Black Dagger offered his plan. “I’m gonna to stay back, then head in a few minutes after you go in. If anything goes wrong at least they won’t know I’m with you. I haven’t met this guy, Greydust, myself so he won’t recognize me.”Jackal sighed. “You and your ‘contacts.’”The bar was unnamed and tiny, especially when a half ogre is involved. Especially when he’s trying to look inconspicuous while being laden with weapons. Grum couldn’t stand, so he stood leaning against a wall.They had arrived before Greydust and decided to spread out in the bar. Malbi and Jackal sat together, while Stock and Grum separated to different tables. There was only one patron in the bar anyway, being that it was still morning, so the only others there were the bartender and a disinterested dwarf who guarded the barrels of swill in the back.“I’m feeling good about this,” said Malbi as they waited.“It had better not be a wild goose chase.”Malbi sighed and almost drank a bit of the ale, but then realized what he was about to do.As they waited a man in a gray cloak walked into the bar, nodded to the bartender and then headed back toward Jackal and Malbi’s table. The emblem of the Dustmen was pinned to his cloak, and they could see the lines under his dark eyes as he looked at them expressionlessly. This was definitely their man.“Greydust? Have a seat.” Jackal had decided that he would be the one to do the talking.Greydust sat down with them. The cloak covered his entire body except his face, and they were happy with that. Dustmen were known more for their consorting with the undead than their personal hygiene.“You have some information for us concerning Factotum Caradver.” It wasn’t a question.“I don’t personally know where Caradver is, but I know someone who does.”Malbi and Jackal both looked perturbed by this. Black Dagger sauntered into the bar and ordered a drink. Malbi had to restrain himself from shooting him a glare, and Jackal was already trying to get what little information out of Greydust that he could.“Who would this be?” he sighed.“A man by the name of Grahas Xas. He is one of Caradver’s disciples.”“Disciples?”“Yes, they worship the demon lord Orcus.”Malbi’s eyes shot back to Greydust. He knew who Orcus was, a foul and powerful demon who had died and been reborn; some said as the undead. He ruled an entire layer of the Abyss and called himself the Prince of the Undead. Things just got a lot more complicated if Caradver was a follower of his.Jackal’s ignorance was bliss for now, “Okay okay, so this Xas guy is going to know where Caradver is, right?” He frowned.“Of course. He is one of his head men.”“Then where is he?”“He is the High Priest Grahas of the Chapel of Tombs of the Lower Ward here in Sigil.”Malbi groaned loudly at this. The Chapel of Tombs? Sometimes he thought he knew too much about this city for his own good. That was a high profile Dustman temple where they kept many of their honored dead in Sigil. Rumor had it that it was an undead breeding ground, and it was a fact that there were catacombs far beneath each of the five Chapel of Tombs in Sigil.Jackal shot Malbi a glance, not knowing Malbi was holding back his dread. “And Xas will just tell us where Caradver is?”“I’m sure you can persuade him.”“Malbi, do you know where that is?”Malbi didn’t answer for a second, then responded with a weak “Yes.”“Okay then. I trust you’ve already been paid for this information.”“Of course.”With that, Jackal stood up and left, Malbi following soon afterward, and with no apparent threat, Grum and Stock decided to follow along in suit.</blockquote>

Verification