Into the Moral Darkness: IC

[Nonlethal Force]

Eranielle smiles as Venial shows interest in her religion. "I serve Mouqol. He is god of negotiations and trade, and the mayor here pays Mouqol significant honor. It is a shame that the mayor honors Vecna more, but as a front he keeps me in his employ. Fear not, I do not share much in common with those among the mayor's staff that worship Vecna."

At his request to see the holy symbol she frantically looks to the door. "You must ask no other favors, I need to prepare so that I am properly caught in the middle of my regular duties." She lifts her chain out from under her cloak and shows Venial a silver piece with a hole in it through which the chain runs. "It was the first silver piece I ever earned on the streets and was blessed by the priest who trained me to follow Mouqol and has served me well. Now please, I must prepare."

[Sblock=OOC]Mouqol can be found in the Complete Divine p. 122. Portfolio = Trade/Negotiations. Domains = Knowledge, Pact, Travel, Trickery[/Sblock]

 

[Velmont]

Venial lay in the coffin and see the bench close over his head. I've seen worse... no I havn't. That is the first time I am really in danger. Welcome to the dark side of the hunt. My uncle was right. My preys are more dangerous than animals, they don't want to save there hide, they want to take mine. So, they are followers of Vecna. I must tell that the word of one woman will not be enough of a proof for teh Baron. He might even know it already. I'll need some solid proof if I want to report that. I just hope Erranielle don't want to turn me to someone.... but why would she has taken so much trouble to then send me to my death. No, I can trust her... for now. But stay vigilent, it seems the threat might be more important than I thought.

Venial start to conentrate on the sounds, trying to figure what is happening in the room.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

From inside the bench, Venial can hear what sounds like pacing around the room in a semi-frantic manner. The footfalls are light upon the floor, but they show movement all around the room. Several minutes later Venial can hear a sharp knock on the door and an intrusion upon the small chapel before Eranielle can invite them in.

"You have no right to barge in the worship of Mouqol! Had you been patient I would have invited you in!" Eranielle's voice is distinctly irritated by the sudden intrusion.

"You have no right to bar us from your services, priestess." This new voice has a sound of arrogance, as if the owner of the voice commands great power and knows it.

"You were not barred. The doors were shut on account of the sudden commotion. I will not have the worship of Mouqol interrupted by the common troubles of the mayor."

The owner of the other voice laughed and is met by the laughs of several others. "The worship of Mouqol can be interrupted with a single word to our master, priestess. I can have you thrown out on your ear!"

Eranielle replies sharply, "Do not assume more power than you can back up, Garang. I may be minor in the Mayor's house, but my services to Mougol are appreciated. That can not be denied." The thump of something coming to rest on the bench above Venial echoes throughout his small chamber.

"Enough of the pleasantries, Eranielle. There was a disturbance in the room below you. It appears as through someone was murdered. Have you heard anything about it?"

"Murdered? I most certainly have not! Do not confuse Mouqol with the servants of Vecna, Garang. Mouqol has no need for blood in the same manner as Vecna. Perhaps you shoul have tried them first?"

Garang's voice was calm. "The proximity of your room to the crime mandated I start with you."

Eranielle replied quickly, "And I have already told you that my doors were shut on account of the noise I heard. Perhaps your crime is the disturbance that interrupted my worship. But as you can see here, it is indeed worship that has been occupying my time here, not murder! And if I might add, Mouqol still waits interrupted a second time by your interrogation of a priestess who is innocent of any murder."

Garang's voice had a sharp tone. "Very well. I would advise that you not make yourself hard to find when the mayor inquires of this from you."

The doors slam closed and through the floor and bench Venial can feel footsteps retreating down the hall more than hear them. After a few minutes the top of the bench lifts up and Eranielle smiles worriedly at Venial. "I assume you heard, then."

 

[Velmont]

As he overhears the discussion between Garang and Eranielle, Venial stay focus on the discussion. Naturally, his mind try not only to understand what both tells, but how they tells them, the intonation and emotion of there voice. Who knows when he will need to pretend to be any of them. She seems to have taken serious risk, already on the edge of losing her position, but what a position when you have convictions? But if Vecna is really implicated, it might be more than simply a position...

"It was hard to not overhear..." tells Venial as he get out of his coffin. "Who is this Garang? It seems you have a 'good' relation with him. And is the worship of Vecna so sommon knowledge that everyone speak of it, or it is more something between you and him?" All the time he speaks, he keeps his voice very low, slightly more than a whisper. After all, she was suppose to be alone.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Eranielle smiles at Venial's humor. "Indeed, I assumed you would have little trouble hearing. As to the worship of Vecna, Garang is the mayor's steward. He and his men are followers - as is the mayor - and it is common knowledge among them that I know of what they do. Many of the mayor's servants are secret worshippers of Vecna. Because of my place and asociation with Mouqol it is not out of line for me to challenge them openly about it. In fact, to not do so would seem odd to them. After all, Mouqol is the patron god of negotiations. What good would a god of negotiations be if they did not know information not known commonly? Besides, they thrive on the challenge. Yet I must be careful where the challenges take place. To make an accusation publicly where non-worshippers of Vecna are present might bring about their wrath in the middle of the night."

 

[Velmont]

Venial strentch a bit. His time in the coffin have been short, but with the adrenaline still in his vein, it just as if he had not enough space, not enough air. He sits down on a bench. "When I saw those three jumping on me, I though that I needed to use all my mind, and a bit of luck to get out of there safely... I never though my luck would be looking like an elf. Thanks."

Now, I will need to get out of here... I could disguise myself as a servant and leave... or escape during the night, hiding in the shadows... Go hide in a charriot and let him lead me out of here... None is perfect, none is safe. I'll need Eranielle to help me, ro ta least gives me some infromation to make sure I rais emy chance of escape.

After a moment of staying silent, thinking, Venial looks at Eranielle. "I am quite sure you are a good person, but your situation doesn't seem to allow you to do too much things against the mayor. Why have you come to help to the diplomat I am. My death could have put the mayor in dire situation toward my liege."

I have the feeling she know what I am not, if not who I am.

[SBLOCK=OOC]For now, Venial keeps his role as the Voice toward Eranielle and try to see if she is sincere.

Bluff: +11
Sense Motive: +7[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Eranielle nods at his first comment. "I am an elf, true. But I've found race to matter little when standing against the designs of Vecna or the simple games played by the mayor. The lust of power is often blind to the designs of race."

"As for my purpose of being here, I don't recall saying that I was against the mayor. I am opposed to some of the mayor's business dealings. When it became known among the mayor's servants that the mayor intended to kill an imposter ambassador to embarass the Baron I figured that was a business arragnement that I could find fault with. I am assuming you are the imposter - or else a fortunate coincidence has occurred on your behalf."

[Sblock=OOC]Sorry, she already heard Venial was an imposter from the 'gossip' around the mayor's palace. She doesn't know Venial is the imposter. However, she is assuming that since she heard about the potential murder of an imposter and Venial was nearly murdered that it was a likely conclusion to draw.[/Sblock]

 

[Velmont]

Venial smiles. "I see. You know, this city have an odd concept for secrets. It looks like they run among people like kids in the streets." Venial pause a moment. "I am not an imposter... and even if I was, I would be bound not to tell you." Venial winks at the elf before smiling again. "It seems I just need to go back home, if the mayor doesn't want me here. I have a few ideas hw I can get out of here, but none seems to satisfy me yet... anyway, wathever my choice, I think spending the night in that coffin would just help me. They are searching for me now, but they might think I have escaped later and there search will not be limited to this building. Maybe you had thought of something already?" asks the small Aster.l

[SBLOCk=OOC]Oh, it was my guess too, but just in case.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The elf frowns. "As for designs for you to escape I must confess to know little and have thought ahead even less. Your safety was my immediate concern. My safety was my secondary concern. Seeing as how those have now both been secured for the time being I can move on to other things. Unfortuantely, since I do not know where you are destined to head towards - or return to - I will be of little aid. That is assuming, of corse, that you have anywhere to return to as well."

She sighs and adds as an afterthought, "I don't even know if the place you came from is safe. I don't know where the assassination attempt on your life originated!"

 

[Velmont]

"I just arrive and you tell me you knew the assassination attempt for some times. I just see one possibility, someone send news to the mayor, which mean if I go back, I won't be completly safe. There is a mole."

Who could have been spying on the Baron? I'll have to think about it later, for now, let's concentrate on my escape, I am not safe as long as I stay here, and I endanger Eranielle.

"It's not I don't like your company, but my presence can compromise your safety, so I'll have to leave you soon. But I think it will be better to do this tomorrow, a bit before the diner. Is there any small person or kids that work in the kitchen?"