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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Femerus the Gnecro" data-source="post: 682505" data-attributes="member: 2381">The door opens, and the man who stands before them is hardly recognizable as the drunk, pathetic wretch who so severely thrashed them at the carnival.  This man is tall, clean-shaven and powerful, holding himself with an air of calm self-confidence.  Though he does not appear to be carrying any weapons, his presence nevertheless instills a sense of awe upon the two adventurers standing outside his door.  Tobias studies them for a moment, a glimmer of recognition finally showing in his eyes.“What can I do for you gentl… Oh!  It’s you!  Please, come in.”  The two men enter Tobias’ home and take a seat on the proffered couch, sitting across from their host.  Kerim, still a bit nervous, jumps straight to the point.“Should we go through the whole pleasantry bit, or should we just skip to the part where we start talking about what we came here for?”  Kerim speaks so quickly that Tobias spends a few moments blinking before he answers.  His voice takes on a more cautious tone than before.“What did you come for?”“Well... we think we can stop the Orcs from attacking the city, and we think that you can help us.  Assuming, that is, that you're the son of Diario Leel?”Tobias’ eyes narrow slightly, but neither of his guests notice.  “I am.”  After Tobias’ confirmation, Kerim continues, far more relaxed.“Then you are probably familiar with his escapades against he Orcs about... fifty years ago?”Tobias nods slowly.  “I am well aware of his actions.  What can I do for you gentlemen?”  Kerim, finally picking up on the ever-growing tone of menace from Tobias, blanches a bit, but continues.“Okay... then you probably know the location of the spear of... uh... *help me out here damek*”  Damek looks at Kerim and rolls his eyes.“Barikbaree.”  Kerim nods.“That’s right.  Bark-bark Tree.”Tobias sighs softly, as though expecting the conversation to turn in this direction.  “I know of the spear.  Why do you ask?”“Well... it just so happens that we've discovered that the increase in orc hostilities over the last 50 years is directly related to the taking of the spear by your father, and we have good reason to believe that if the spear is returned, the Orcs will stop attacking the city in vain attempts to retrieve it.”  Kerim looks at Tobias intently, as though expecting him to pull out the spear and give it to them.Tobias sits back in his chair and remains silent for some time, as though contemplating something.  After a while, he speaks.  “That would not surprise me.  However, the Orcs cannot have their spear back.”  The trio sits for a few minutes in silence, Damek playing with his spell component pouches while Kerim picks at his fingernails intently.  Tobias does not move, save to blink.  Finally, Kerim breaks the silence.“Uh… just out of curiosity… why not!?”  Tobias regards him passively and speaks, as though out of rote.  “My father was instructed to take it from their leader, and he did. He was instructed to keep it safe here, and he has. He instructed me to guard it, and I have.”  Damek begins to speak before Tobias is even finished.“Instructed?  By whom?  And to what purpose?”  Tobias shakes his head.“I was never told this.”Kerim, looking flustered and feeling powerless, jumps back into the conversation.  “And your father's dying wish, the reasons for which you were not even informed, is more important than the safety of this entire town?”Leel locks gazes with Kerim for a moment before speaking, speaking volumes with his eyes alone.“Yes.” “But… you don’t even know why?”“I do not need to know why.  You do not need to know why you live to do so… I do not need to know why I guard. I simply do so.  It is my birthright.  My father swore to guard it till his dying day, and I swore to him I would guard it to mine. My children will guard it to the grave as well.”“Is it by any chance a spear with a raven black iron head?” asks Kerim, suddenly remembering his conversation with the nutball psychic lady.  For a moment, Tobias’ composure cracks a bit as his quickly glances at Kerim, but then he relaxes again.“Yes, that is a fair description of it.  Would you care for something?  May I serve you some tea, or food?”  At the mention of food, Kerim’s eyes brighten somewhat.  Damek, however, is still in ‘interrogation’ mode.“And this Barikbaree… you keep it safe within this building?”  For a brief moment, Tobias voice grows cold… as cold as it was during their encounter at the carnival, albeit less slurred.“We have spoken enough of the spear, sir.”As Tobias goes into the kitchen to prepare some refreshment for his guests, Kerim switches to Elven and whispers softly to Damek.“Damek!  I just had a disturbing thought.  You remember that dagger that was delivered to me last night?  I think the sender intended for me to use it on Tobias!  It’s all beginning to make sense… the necromantic aura of the blade, the message from the courier, our constant manipulations.  Someone wants us to take this spear from Tobias, and they don’t care how we do it!”As Tobias returns with a tray of biscuits and boiling water, Kerim fingers the strange dagger in his pouch absently, wondering if its power was enough to bring down a man such as Tobias Leel in one hit.  The thought gives him an exhilaration, as though a rush of power imbued his arm with the power of death… at the same time, however, a sick feeling comes over Kerim at the thought of taking an innocent life, and he removes his hand from the pouch as Tobias begins to brew the tea.</blockquote>

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