Creamsteak
Explorer
"Well, the only thing I hadn't calculated already was the raven and the gold ring. That seems significant, but I can't exactly say what it meant. It sounds more like a dream or a vision than a depiction of the events. Either way, I'll keep my eye out for any notes regarding what that might have been related to."
"I have been investigating the issues of Istivin for some time now, without charging for my services. It's been a personal project of mine, a slow process over time. Recently, however, I have come to believe that an Abyssal presence grows within the city. I don't know exactly what it is, but it is slowly spreading from the center of the city. I don't know if there's some limit to how far this thing will reach, I don't know how to determine that."
"Since her husband vanished, the marchioness has had her hands full just trying to keep the peace, and I don't believe she has the resources to do anything but fight the symptoms of this malady. Worse, I fear that this taint may have already taken root in her heart, so I have not revealed this information to her. But you are new to the city - visitors - and thus I reckon you might be willing to keep a secret?"
Algorthas masterfully twists and combs his amazing mustache without missing a beat. He looks over the group seeming to make judgements about each person based on their appearance.
"I knew of your encounter with the madman last night; indeed, this is the main reason that led me to contact you. I have come to believe that this madman is somehow the key to this situation. His name was Alanar Kane, and he worked in the deepest dungeons below Krelont Keep. Dungeons to which no outsiders are allowed access."
The old man trails into silence. Suddenly his eyes grow wide with twinkling excitement.
"If there is one thing more plentiful than mysteries here in Istivin, it's books. Most of the city's noble families keep extensive collections of ancient tomes as a sort of status symbol. The city is a living library."
"In one such tome, I came across a record of the construction of Krelont Keep penned by architects buried ten centuries ago."
He strokes his mustache thoughtfully.
"There are two factions that you might seek out in Istivin. The first is the Marchioness. Her resources are stretched thin, but she may have some gold for someone that might alleviate some of her problems, something buried away under the city. The second faction is a group of nobles that have come to accuse the Marchioness of being a witch. They think she imprisoned her husband and hid him away in the Deeper Dungeons. I am, of course, neutral on this matter. I don't play at politics because I have already calculated who is in the right here."
"The way I see it, you could go to one faction or the other and see if they are willing to offer you a reward. Or, perhaps, you could take a gamble and play both sides, as a truly crafty person like myself might. Either way, I am more than willing to provide you with a way into the Deeper Dungeon if you want it. If you can get in and investigate the dungeons below the keep, I believe you'll learn something about the threat looming over Istivin. I only ask that you share that information, should you find it."
"I have been investigating the issues of Istivin for some time now, without charging for my services. It's been a personal project of mine, a slow process over time. Recently, however, I have come to believe that an Abyssal presence grows within the city. I don't know exactly what it is, but it is slowly spreading from the center of the city. I don't know if there's some limit to how far this thing will reach, I don't know how to determine that."
"Since her husband vanished, the marchioness has had her hands full just trying to keep the peace, and I don't believe she has the resources to do anything but fight the symptoms of this malady. Worse, I fear that this taint may have already taken root in her heart, so I have not revealed this information to her. But you are new to the city - visitors - and thus I reckon you might be willing to keep a secret?"
Algorthas masterfully twists and combs his amazing mustache without missing a beat. He looks over the group seeming to make judgements about each person based on their appearance.
"I knew of your encounter with the madman last night; indeed, this is the main reason that led me to contact you. I have come to believe that this madman is somehow the key to this situation. His name was Alanar Kane, and he worked in the deepest dungeons below Krelont Keep. Dungeons to which no outsiders are allowed access."
The old man trails into silence. Suddenly his eyes grow wide with twinkling excitement.
"If there is one thing more plentiful than mysteries here in Istivin, it's books. Most of the city's noble families keep extensive collections of ancient tomes as a sort of status symbol. The city is a living library."
"In one such tome, I came across a record of the construction of Krelont Keep penned by architects buried ten centuries ago."
He strokes his mustache thoughtfully.
"There are two factions that you might seek out in Istivin. The first is the Marchioness. Her resources are stretched thin, but she may have some gold for someone that might alleviate some of her problems, something buried away under the city. The second faction is a group of nobles that have come to accuse the Marchioness of being a witch. They think she imprisoned her husband and hid him away in the Deeper Dungeons. I am, of course, neutral on this matter. I don't play at politics because I have already calculated who is in the right here."
"The way I see it, you could go to one faction or the other and see if they are willing to offer you a reward. Or, perhaps, you could take a gamble and play both sides, as a truly crafty person like myself might. Either way, I am more than willing to provide you with a way into the Deeper Dungeon if you want it. If you can get in and investigate the dungeons below the keep, I believe you'll learn something about the threat looming over Istivin. I only ask that you share that information, should you find it."
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