Kiss of Darkness: Part 1--A Hint of Shadow

[Rystil Arden]

*There are other buildings around it in the slums, but none of them is particularly outstanding. They just seem like dirty squalid buildings.*

 

[Bront]

"Rhaka, I know you wish to help the people here, but I think that at the moment, the greatest danger to the people of this city is whoever is making these people disapear. They deserve more, but they also deserve to be safe."

Val pauses for a moment, "Perhaps someone around here saw some activity."

 

[Keia]

Verra Saefael, elven telepath

"Nail biting bad . . . got it," Verra offered with a small smile, almost surprised at the number of responses to her question. "Has the little mouse told us all that she could? Can you talk with her any more?"

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Val pauses for a moment, "Perhaps someone around here saw some activity."

Rhaka smiles and replies, "Which is one reason that I think the people around here need help. I've found in nature that animals can be very observant, but they need to have a level of trust established before they are willing to talk. One does not feed the beaver by going up and pounding on his damn. One feeds the beaver by spending time around him, learning his territory, respecting his boarders, and allowing him to become accustommed to one's presence within his territory. Once the beaver has accepted you, how freely they mingle!"

She sighs, thinking of the wild. "I would assume it is the case with all animals - even humans. If we wish these people to trust us and tell us if there is a history behind the hedge mage and this Shadow, we must give them reason to trust us. Unless you have a large sum of money, I believe helping them and feeding them to be the quickest way to develop trust."

"Has the little mouse told us all that she could? Can you talk with her any more?"

"Unfortunately, no. I have a quest to perform for her and return tommorrow. I cannot speak with her again until tomorrow anyway, but if there is more we'd like to ask her, I can make a list and have it ready for tommorrow."

 

[unleashed]

Baeleth Dawnmist, Male High Elf Swashbuckler

“This is true Rhaka, but I’ve also noticed that when there is a dangerous predator in the area, all the lesser animals tend to run and hide,” Baeleth remarks, “and this Shadow seems to be very dangerous indeed. Taking a mage, a swordsman, and who knows who else without a struggle, assuming they are involved in all the abductions.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Rhaka replies, "A dangerous predator who seems only to have a specific appetite, mind you. There is no harm in helping these people, and the good far outweighs the bad in my opinion. But, as we have no other leads and we seem to be stuck once again, I plan on taking the time to help these people. If you all figure something out, please do tell me as I would like to find this Shadow and - as you did elequently state earlier Baeleth - help them by stopping the greater evil. But if you all are simply returning to the hotel to think some more, I would like to stick around and help these people before returning to the hotel. I will eventualy return to the hotel. As I said, I have a quest to look in upon for madame mouse who is expecting."

There is no sense of irritation or "snippiness" in her voice, simple matter-of-fact and nuts-and-bolts approach to time management as her tone.

 

[unleashed]

Baeleth Dawnmist, Male High Elf Swashbuckler

“Of course there’s no harm in helping these people. I just don’t imagine anyone here will have seen much to further our hunt, though I’d like nothing better than to be proved wrong, considering as you say, our leads have dried up once again,” Baeleth asserts.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Sensing Baeleth's compromise, Rhaka adds, "I'm sorry, Baeleth. I guess I have been hitting this issue rather hard. It pains me to see people struggle against a system that does little to help them. And all the stories we heard about this hedge mage made it seem like they found someone to care about them. Now this mage is gone, and I can at least ease some of the burden. When it seemed like we had exausted our leads once again and had nothing else to try immediately, I fell back onto my desires to help these people in any way. I meant no disrespect to the pursuit of your missing friend, either. It has nothing to do with choosing to not follow Shadow - it has everything to do with helping when I can with what I can."

 

[unleashed]

Baeleth Dawnmist, Male High Elf Swashbuckler

“Well potential mentor at least, as I haven’t managed to meet the man as yet...he was taken before I first arrived at his domicile,” Baeleth remarks with a frown. “We could try exploring near the warehouses again, as night would be the best time for people to be moved, but that would likely prove fruitless once more...as there are so many warehouses and so few of us.”

 

[Bront]

"Rhaka," Val says, before sighing, deciding not to push the issue. "Let's do what we can, but the sooner we follow the signs of this Shadow, the better. Our wait last night put us behind, and we now have a fresher trail."