House Millithor in the City of the Spider Queen

[Serpenteye]

The grimlock bows very low before Matron Ki'Willis and speaks,
"Master Klaxeon has three requests. The first request is to obtain an item of power that your wizard possesses and to find out where the wizard obtained the item. The other two requests do not mantter if you are unwilling to comply with the first request. My master is willing to purchase the desired item for a sum of 5000 gold."

Ki'Willis smiles cooly, letting her natural arrogance be tempered with a dry but pleasant charm, with a threatening edge.
Convey my greetings and respect to your master. I may be willing to do business with him, but I first require an explanation for the psionic attacks with which he and his companions have assaulted my wizard. Your master must be well aware that such actions under most circumstances constitute an act of war. Out of respect for the peace of Manthol Derith and the famed potency of the Illithid race I wish to avoid further escalation of this conflict. But let your master Klaxeon be very well aware that I will tolerate no further such acts of agression. I am not without allies here.
I also wish to know to which item you are referring and, if your master wishes to sate my curiosity, the means by which your master found out about my wizards posession of said item.

ooc: Diplomacy +20

 

[Endur]

The unnamed grimlock waits a moment and then he responds,"My master and his associates are from the magnificent city of Oryndoll, greatest city in all the world. They were sent forth as an inquisation to destroy an abomination, an undead illithid. As an inquisation, they are authorized to take all necessary measures, including the reading of minds of lesser races and the destruction of the abomination's servants.

"While performing a passive scan of the crowd, one of my Master's associates detected psionic emanations with a mental signature similar to that of the Abomination emanating from an item in the possession of Quertus. We would have to examine Quertus's items in order to determine which item it is we desire, although Quertus's thoughts indicate that he does not wish to give up a coin he has hidden in a pouch on his belt."

 

[Serpenteye]

So, there is some common ground. An Alhoon took part in the assault on Menzoberranzan, this is no coincidence. Now, let's see if this can be exploited.
The elimination of an Alhoon is indeed worthy of measures that would otherwise be considered exessive. I am surprised, however, that your master does not already know that the Abomination known as Syrzan has already been destroyed. Ilsensine's work has been done, and it would seem exessive measures are no longer needed. She spreads her hands in a conciliatory gesture.
If your master still desires to posess the Wizard's item I will give him his answer in a couple of minutes, I must first consult with my advisors.

If the grimlock accepts that answer and leaves the box she will then turn to Quertus and, with a withering look, let her hands speak her order; Explain yourself! Which item was he referring to and why have you concealed it from me?

 

[Endur]

The grimlock continues to speak to Matron Ki'Willis Millithor, "My master is aware of the abomination's alleged destruction in Menzoberanzan, and other events that took place in Menzoberanzan. The abomination has survived appearent destruction before. The Inquisation will not rest until the Abomination suffers final death. My master will give you the time you requested to consider your only option. His associates will not attempt any more mental attacks. He will continue to monitor the wizard's thoughts, of course."

 

[Serpenteye]

He will continue to monitor the wizard's thoughts, of course."

That would be most counterproductive. The invasion of my House Wizard's thoughts will make him no more tractable. That violation of his privacy will only make him more hateful towards your master and less likely to give up the item of his own free will. If he decided to flee you couldn't stop him and if your master would attempt to Dominate him then that would be the end of your quest.
We share a common enemy, we would both benefit from a peaceful cooperation. Nothing would be gained, by either Oryndoll or Menzoberranzan, if this came to blows.

 

[Endur]

Django tells a joke in dwarven. The dwarves and duergar in the crowd roar with laughter. Even Endur and the wolf smile.

Below Dariel's feet, a fiendish Large Spider wavers into existance. It runs forward and bites Endur, biting his face in the gap of his helm and drawing blood. Dariel begins casting Natures Ally I.

Endur swings his gleaming battleaxe several times and the spider is slain and fades out of existance.

The white wolf takes a running leap and attempts to leap up and bite Dariel, who is currently pressed against the ceiling of the cage. The wolf's mouth passes within a foot of Dariel, but he didn't quite leap high enough.

The conversation between the Matron and the Grimlock is going on as described in other posts.

Next Round
Initiative
Jena: 23
Dark Elf NPCs: 21
Kilcif: 20
Dwarf NPCs (not counting Endur): 20
Narcelia: 19
Torellan: 15
Dariel:14
Carcelon: 14 (held action to dispel Endur after Dariel attacks Endur)
Endur and Wolf: 14
Any NPC not mentioned: 13
Mind Flayers and Flunkies: 12
Krecil, Quertus: 11
Marckarius: 10
Matron Ki'Willis: 3

 

[Xael]

Quertus listens to the affair, casts his own Dispel Magic on himself, trying to dispel the Detect Thoughts, and then replies to the Matron, keeping his voice calm (he doesn't think he's done anything wrong): "I highly suspect that the item they're referring to is the old coin you took from the goblin, Matron Mother. You told me to try to figure out what the coin does, which I was preparing to do after we had finished our business in the arena. So far I haven't found out anything worth your time, excluding few visions describing the coin's strory, but I was highly reluctant to tell your ladyship that I'm having strange trances at the middle of the day, so I decided to wait until I would have examined the coin completely and discovered it's purprose.

I know that the coin is centuries old. Grivak the goblin tried to steal the coin while we were fighting with the demons with lady Yyssiriryl, and I suspect that there is some kind of curse in the coin affecting those of weak will. Some of the visions have included an Illithid with a mark describing a red star contained within a purple circle in his robes. In another vision I heard a man say that the coin protects the owner from mental control, but there's more to it, I'm sure. But I only have theories and nothing certain. If your ladyship wishes to be bothered with my guesses this far, I will of course tell you.

I'm also very sure that the coin is worth more that 5000 gold pieces."

While he speaks, Quertus digs the coin from his pouch and displays it to Matron.

 

[Serpenteye]

She takes the coin out of his hand and studies it for a moment.
Indeed it is. Interesting, and as you say much more valuable than a mere 5000. I should have known about this sooner, that would not have undermined my confidence in you. Anything that has the power to incapacitate you like that is important enough to tell me about. I would suspect some other motivation behind your actions. But your loyalty has never been in question, before.
And what are your thoughts, Quertus? Would you keep the coin, knowing that doing so would make our quest all the more difficult? Is its hold over you that strong?

 

[Xael]

Quertus thinks for a couple of seconds, then replies: "I don't know if the coin has any power on me, even though that is certainly possible. I see no immediate use for the coin's powers, but the 5000 does seem a bit low. My proposal is - if your ladyship allows me to express my opinion - to propose something else to the Illithids:

Their powers are far more stealthy than mine, and very effective agains weak-willed. I would be ready to hand over the coin to them for free - assuming I'm still in control of myself - if they would assist Dariel to victory with his duel with their mental powers. We could gain much more by that way, and they wouldn't have to part with any gold.

I also apologise for not informing your Ladyship, but the time was limited and we had more pressing matters - Dariel - at hand. And frankly, I'd rather not brag about a coin incapacitating me.

 

[Thels]

After summoning the wolf, Dariel will lower himself and attack Endur as soon as possible from a flanking and defensive position.