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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ipissimus" data-source="post: 3612314" data-attributes="member: 41514">Dukar shrugged. "So where do we come in?""I need agents," the Baron said, "people who can investigate and root out the parts of the Seventh Coil that I myself am not privy to. It is my belief that the Seventh Coil has headquarters in most of the major cities across the land and counts many of the wealthy among their members. As important as I now believe myself to be in their affairs, even I have yet to meet the inner circle. If the Seventh Coil is to be defeated, their leaders must be uncovered and eliminated. That will be your job.""I'm sorry but I don't buy it," the priest growled, "why tell us? Any one of us could go to the Seventh Coil and rat you out for a golden handshake.""Because I know their methods," the Baron retorted, "your golden handshake would be coated with deadly contact poison. We have no reason to trust each other, I have no illusions on that score. You must understand, however, the nature of the enemy we face and the scope of the rewards I am prepared to offer. In addition, Dukar, I warn you not to take me lightly. If any one of you even thinks about betraying my cause you will be disposed of without mercy. I will allow nothing to come between me and my revenge. Nothing."They were all silent for a long time as the Baron glared down at Dukar. The priest gave him a respectful nod. "I'm in."Zaladi shrugged. "All I'm interested in is the money. I'm in."All eyes turned to Shae. She smiled. "Sounds like fun. Why not? I'm more concerned with our first move.""Very well," the Baron nodded, sitting back down. "I have three leads for you to follow up. I must stress secrecy in all aspects of your dealings. You will have my backing when I am able to act but I cannot jeopardize my standing with the Seventh Coil or all will be undone. Now, firstly I know of a secret Seventh Coil storehouse near the village of Haven on the east coast of the island. Though it has fallen into disuse, a through search of the remaining contents could reveal further leads as to the nature of the organization. Secondly, they've been urging me to make ovatures to the elven settlements near the mountains. Last of all, my own home town is currently being terrorized by a madman who kidnaps people off the street, murders them and leaves the bodies for the authorities to find in the morning. I believe that this isn't the work of a madman, his targets are very precisely selected from those who somehow stand to interfere with Seventh Coil dealings. In a few weeks a patsy will be caught and promptly hanged in a wave of public discontent and thw whole thing will blow over as they have planned.""So we leave scuttlecove," Jacith said, "push north towards Haven, see what we can find there, then cut across country through Elven territory towards Leshass. We can pose as mercenaries hired to patrol the trade route by the Baron, which also gives us a good excuse to do a little snooping if the need arises. Once we arrive, we can report to the Baron and he can hire us again to track down this serial killer. Anyone have another idea?"Dukar and Zelandi shook their heads. Shae, however, nodded. "Two things, really, not related to the plan. Firstly, if you don't mind me asking Baron, are you married?"He shook his head. "No.""This is no time to be looking for a date, girl!" Gukar protested."Actually, I think it's a very relevant question. How well do you know your friend's widow?""Milady," the Baron scowled, "are you suggesting some from of impropriety on my part?""No, I was wondering if she'd made any ovatures to you.""i don't see how that could be relevant," The Baron answered evasively."Consider the situation from the other side's point of view," Shae explained, "this woman sounds to me like she is most eligible. Wealthy now and, if your body language is anything to go by my dear Baron, a beauty. Also, no doubt, a confidant of yours seeing as how you have intimated a close working relationship within this secret society.""I have not told her of my plans, if that is what you're getting at, and I wish to keep her out of it if at all possible.""has she made any ovatures of marriage to you?"The thought gave him pause. "She has been... solicitous of my health where most others are cold to me. Nothing improper, however, it would be churlish of me in the extreme to take advantage of the widow of the man who was both my friend and one that I had executed. In addition, she has turned down several prospective suitors on the grounds that she is not yet over her beloved husband.""Oh, dear," Shae sighed, "men can be such clots. Baron, I would be willing to place any bet you care to name that if you were to make any sort of advances upon her person, she would be all too willing to go along with them. She is an agent of the Seventh Coil, marriage to you would give the society another hold over you as well as a more valuable agent... or perhaps agents if she succeeds in begetting a child by you."The Baron stared at her, the colour slowly draining out of his face.Dukar chuckled. "This is what I mean. Love is a weakness.""By the Goddess, I didn't see it. Twice blind and stupid!" The Baron growled at himself, stamping his foot."If I might make a suggestion," Shae smiled disarmingly."I'm all ears, milady.""Go along with it."The Baron looked shocked."What?" Shae shrugged. "You're unmarried, and might I suggest that if you were your wife might already have been stricken with the same mysterious illness that took your brother if you had been married. She is a wealthy and beautiful widow. Your position and prestiege would expand greatly with your union and as such no-one will dare voice any moral objections. And I daresay if they do, the Seventh Coil will silence them before you have time for second thoughts. Respond to her advances, spend time with her, woo her and get engaged after a properly discreet period of time. Let them think you're falling into line with their plans, give them no reason to doubt your loyalty. As they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.""Hmmm," the Baron mused, scratching his chin, "we'll see. I should be back in time for the ball, assuming this rain lets up, if I ask her to the dance and she agrees, we'll play the game and see who comes out on top, figuratively speaking. Your second point?""Yes, when do we get our money?"Zeladi smiled. "Good question.""Jacith has your one hundred gold piece advance," the Baron answered, "the rest plus a bonus dependant on your performance awaits you in Lashess. Now, if that is all, I'll leave you all to your bussiness."Jacith and Shae stood with the Baron and bowed before he left. Sitting back down, Jacith glared at Dukar and Zeladi. "You could both use some culture. Our employer is a man of breeding, he respects those who know the proper courtesies.""I bow to no man," Dukar snarled."Honestly," Zeladi waved away the complaint, "I couldn't care less what he thinks of me. I know seven baleful magics that could tear the man apart with a snap of my fingers. His claims of power by indefineable birthright are laughable at best.""Dear gods," Shae sighed, "of all the evils in the world, I had to go an align myself with a republican."The necromancer raised his eyebrow. "You have a problem with the concept of every man and woman being free and equal in society?""By Hextor, I damn well do!" Dukar exclaimed.Shae winced. "As much as I hate to agree with the priest, I think that no matter what sort of label you put on a civilization, there will always be those that are more equal than others. It's human nature to form a pecking order with the strong rising to the top. Monarchy, democracy, theocracy, magocracy, it just doesn't matter one whit.""Enough," Jacith interrupted the necromancer before he could retort, "we leave in the morning. I'll have your pay divided up by then. We all have a room here tonight and fresh horses in the stables, I'll expect to see you in the tavern at dawn."###Shae was busy combing her hair later that night when she heard some noises in the hallway. She'd spent the rest of the day packing for the road, paying off her landlord and transfering her belongings into a locker at the Rustry Shunt, the only place in town you could trust to return your things in the same condition you gave them.Treading lightly to the door, she opened it a crack to find Zeladi hovering over one of the barmaids, entrapping her against the wall. She was young but experienced and she was having none of the necromancer's advances."...even if I were dead, the answer would still be no. Can't you get it through your thick skull?"He smiled lewdly. "I think I can change your mind." His voice lowered but his next words reverberated through Shae's bones despite the fact that they were barely audible. The barmaid swayed on her heels for a moment as her expression changed from one of blatant disgust to open admiration. Absently, Shae clutched her locket for reassurance as Zeladi pulled her into a kiss that she eagerly returned.Stepping into the doorway, Shae raised her voice. "How long does it last?"Pausing, Zeladi broke away from the kiss to glance at Shae. Turning back to the barmaid, he patted her backside. "Why don't you go into my room, I'll be there in a moment."She nodded blankly, still breathing hard from the kiss, and slipped through the door to his room, starting to undress even before the door was closed. "In answer to your question," the necromancer grinned like a schoolboy, all too pleased with himself, "a few hours. More than I need.""And what happens when it wears off?"He shrugged. "What can she do? Complain that she acted like a slut? That I used foul magics to seduce her? Do you believe that anyone around here will think that she's anything but a whore I refused to pay?"Shae resisted the urge to rip out his throat with her teeth. Beckoning him closer, she made her next statement a whisper. "Zeladi. If you ever try to do that to me, I will stick burning needles in your eyes, cut off your hands and rip out your tongue. What remains of you will be sold as a vessel for what men who have needs for other men to satisfy themselves upon. Are we clear?"Smirking, Zeladi nodded. "Crystal. See you in the morning."</blockquote>

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