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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1408064" data-attributes="member: 9744">chapter 4 Beware of Halflings Bearing GiftsLater on that day as the companions sat enjoying their drinks and food in the Benn Crouch tavern, a large hat drifted towards the table with a thin trail of pipe smoke coming from underneath. The hat was bright and colourful with a large peacock feather tucked in the side. Underneath it was a halfling who was grinning from ear to ear."Hello!" The halfling exclaimed as he tipped his large hat back so that the others could see him."Hello Deus!" Serena exclaimed in delighted surprise. The petite seer got up and gave the halfling a great big hug. Malkir looked somewhat bemused and not too surprised to see his former travelling companion in town."Malkir,” The halfling commented as he shook the mystic's hand. “You look different.""Yes, I am." The mystic replied, as if that explained everything."You would not believe what it is like out here.” Deus began as he climbed on to the bench next to Andrew. “So many things to see, so much to do. I've learned quite a few things and have found out more about my father. There are business opportunities out here that you would not believe. In fact we have a caravan leaving fairly soon.""Let me make some introductions.” Malkir decided to interrupt his former travelling companion before the halfling got in to the full swing of his story telling. “This is Littleby Cakebeard.""We've met." The dwarven scholar shook his hand and smiled. When he finished shaking his hand he surreptitiously check to see if he still had all his rings on his fingers. Deus, knowing what necromancers were like,  surreptitiously  checked that he still had all his fingers."And this is..." Malkir began."Andrew Rimilia." He said as he shook the halfling's hand."It is a pleasure to meet you." Deus studied the non-descript human man and memorised his features for future reference."Deus I always knew you as a halfling of good ideas,” Littleby began. “A little abstract of course, but of good ideas." He paused to take a sip of his drink. "Nearest portal to Sigil?" The dwarven scholar asked suddenly."You've just missed one. It will not reappear for another week or so." Deus tried to think of any other portals in Ecstasy, but he could not think of any to the City of Doors. "How do you mean?" Malkir asked. He was certain that portals remained in place."It will appear again in ten days time," Deus informed the others."Where exactly?" Littleby asked."Here in Ecstasy." The halfling had used the portal recently during a brief visit to the Cage where he'd wined and dined with an attractive human woman. "I thought that portals were permanent." As Malkir said it, he realised that a part of him knew this to be untrue. Thrown off by the sudden revelation, he missed the beginning of Deus's lecture. "Oh no.” Deus sat up to explain, glad to have a interested audience. “Some portals are only open for a specific duration of time. Some shift at one end and cycle between locations in a regular manner. Some appear for a short duration and then never reappear again. Quite a few portals are only one way.""There was this very nice woman that I met in Sigil who knew a great deal about portals.” The halfling looked down as if lost in thought, but his large hat conveniently hid his blushing face. “Always carried a book with her and was very touchy about people complimenting her looks. She prefers people to appreciate her for what she knows. I got a chance to appreciate her keen mind, oh yes. I certainly did some appreciating." He laughed and remembered the magical evening they'd spent together. It had ended earlier than he'd hoped, but he was called away on urgent business."Tell us her name?" Malkir asked, recognising her description."Lissandra," the halfling spoke the name with wonder and longing."I've met her!" Serena said suddenly. That was the name of the nice woman that she'd met at Firoz LaRachelle's party in the Lady's ward.“She's a lovely woman," Deus said simply."Isn't she just," Serena replied. Lissandra about the only ge"Yes," Deus agreed, thinking her lovely for quite different reasons."Yes," Serena echoed Deus's last sentence. "We met once at a party. Deus can we...""Oh, when you next see her.” The halfling lent over the table and whispered conspiratorially. “Can you please tell her that I will write.""Will you though?" Serena asked, trying not to smile."Oh yes," the halfling replied sincerely."Right." The seer said, not believing a word of it.The halfling pulled out a scroll with a red ribbon and slid it across the table to the heart seer of Tomeri. "This will explain a great deal. It has portal information in it." Malkir notices that it was sealed with a glyph. Serena put the letter in her backpack."So what did you find out about your father?" Serena asked, wanting find out more about what her former travelling companion had been up to."He belonged to an organisation known as the Expansionists." Deus spoke with pride at having uncovered this elusive bit of information.The others at the table let out groans and Littleby jumped out of his seat. He spat out what he'd been carefully chewing and almost lost a tooth after he bit down on a piece of grit cake."Deus, do you remember our old employer?” Serena asked sweetly. “Vincent Danster?""Yes. I'm still working for him of course" The halfling replied, thinking about the money that Danster's wife would pay for the information leading to the return of her husband."He was an Expansionist too as I'm sure that you are aware." Serena studied Deus as she spoke, but the halfling was not giving much away."Yes,” He replied with a small smile. “So I have discovered.""Do you know where he is?" the seer asked innocently."Ah, no.” The halfling replied with a smile of his own as if he had just been asked to reveal his hand of cards. “But Vartus Timlin and I are certainly looking for him even as we speak.""Really," Serena exclaimed.Littleby fell off his seat laughing. The halfling's revelation was simply too much and he felt as if some cosmic joke was being played on him."My word,” Malkir said as he watched the dwarf spit out more grit cake. “He's doing it again." "Well I don't know Vartus Timlin in person as I've only met him once. Very fine man." Deus rubbed his chin and studied the others to read their reactions. It was trivial to see what they were thinking, apart from the one who'd been introduced as Andrew Rimilia."Deus,” Littleby said after picking himself off the floor. “Let's go and have a drink.""But you are paying for yours," Malkir said knowing full well how much the halfling enjoyed fine beers. "I know what you are like. I know about your kind. You are a halfling with expensive tastes.""Of course,” Deus laughed. “Are there any other kinds?""I've had a handsome pay-out in the ferry business recently and I'd love to hear about Vartus Timlin.” Littleby climbed off the bench and invited the halfling for a drink in a different tavern. “What say you to going to that inn and having the largest mug of whatever you fancy?""Sounds like a good idea," the halfling replied. It being the best proposition he'd so far that day.</blockquote>

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